The number of victims dead after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK has doubled over night, bringing the death toll to 21.
This was confirmed by Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical officer for England who added that all victims were in the "at risk" groups.
The UK are yet to follow suit with Ireland in closing schools and colleges to react to the imminent threat of the Covid-19 crisis.
All football games and major sporting events have now been cancelled although Cheltenham and its near 80,000 strong crowd did last the full four days.
A lockdown is expected in England in the coming days as death figures and the number of confirmed cases continue to rise.
Another 20 new positive cases of coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland were announced Friday evening.
This brings the total number to 90 in the Republic and 119 on the island of Ireland, after Northern Ireland's nine new cases today brought its number to 29.
Six of the Republic's new cases are associated with travel.
12 are associated with contacts of a confirmed case, four of which are healthcare workers.
Two cases are associated with community transmission.
There has been one confirmed death of COVID-19 in Ireland.
The HSE said it is now working to identify any contacts the patients may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
