The UK coronavirus death toll reached 578, NHS England confirmed today, as cases across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland surpass 10,000.

It comes after a huge overnight surge in deaths which saw more than 100 die in a single night.

Cases of the deadly virus – which originated in Wuhan, China – also surged, with 11,658 people in the UK now confirmed to be suffering from the disease as of Thursday morning.

The actual figure could be much higher, with Johnson last week predicting 50,000, but the government has not yet introduced the strict testing measures that led to control in South Korea and Hong Kong.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said testing kits which will allow people to find out if they have had the virus will become available in the coming days.

But stressed the tests would need to be vetted by top medics first this week adding "it is better to have no test than a bad test".

Earlier today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed a further three coronavirus patients died from the disease in Scotland.

The deaths brought the country's total to 25, with a further 175 confirmed cases.

During her daily briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said: "I can confirm as of 9am there have been 894 positive cases confirmed, an increase of 175 from yesterday.

"These numbers will be an underestimate.

"The Coronavirus bill passed by the UK Parliament yesterday gained royal assent."

The First Minister warned citizens the Government now has powers to "make regulations to enforce social distancing."

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Sturgeon said: "I want to thank people across the country for their compliance.

"These powers are there to make sure the right thing can be done to prevent the spread of the virus.

"If people don't follow prohibition notices or instructions to return home, they could be liable to an on-the-spot fine or, ultimately, prosecuted.

"We expect the vast majority of people to do the right thing without enforcement."

Public Health Wales said another six people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in the country in the last 24 hours.

It brings the total number of deaths from coronavirus-related complications to 28.

The coronavirus death toll in Northern Ireland reached double figures today, officials confirmed.

The announcement means a further three people died from the disease, with the country's number of confirmed cases surpassing 200 to 209.

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The shocking figures come after Boris Johnson thanked more than 405,000 volunteers who have stepped up so far to help the NHS during the coronavirus crisis.

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock asked for 250,000 volunteers to shore up the service at this time of need.

Speaking from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the volunteers "will be absolutely crucial in the fight against this virus.

"That is already, in one day, as many volunteers as the population of Coventry.

"And so to all of you, and to all the former NHS staff who are coming back now into the service, I say thank you on behalf of the entire country."

• Coronavirus
• NHS
• World Health Organisation

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