The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has reached 798 – an increase of 208 over the last 24 hours.

According to the Department of Health, as of 9am on Friday a total of 32,771 people have been tested for COVID-19, with 97.6% found not to have the disease.

Ten patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK have died.

The latest figures come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced new measures as the government’s coronavirus response escalated to the second phase – moving from trying to contain the virus to delaying its spread.

Anyone with a new persistent cough or a high temperature will now have to self-isolate and stay at home for seven days, and schools are being urged to cancel planned trips abroad.

English football authorities have also suspended top level fixtures until 3 April, although the government has not yet ordered the banning of mass gatherings.

Earlier, the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told Sky News around 60% of the UK population will need to become infected with coronavirus in order for society to have “herd immunity“

The World Health Organisation has designated the global coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

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