Coronavirus: Number of people infected with Covid-19 in UK rises to 373

UK total represents second largest day-on-day increase

Today's rise in confirmed cases in the UK from 319 to 373 is the second largest day-on-day increase since the outbreak began.

It is a jump of 54, which is 17% up on the equivalent figure for Monday.

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK continues to rise.

There was also a 17% increase from Sunday (273) to Monday (319).

The largest day-on-day rise so far is the jump of 67 from Saturday March 7 (206) to Sunday March 8 (273).

The new total of 373 means the UK has the fifth highest number of confirmed cases in Europe, according to the World Health Organisation, behind Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

A sixth person in the UK died on Monday evening. The Watford General Hospital patient was a man in his 80s with underlying health conditions.

In Scotland, the number of people infected with the virus has risen to 27, an increase of four on the previous day.