UK coronavirus cases rise to 160 in largest day-on-day increase

In total, 163 people had tested positive for Covid-19 as of 9am on Friday, up from 115 cases reported at the same time on Thursday.

On Thursday evening an older patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with Covid-19

In the North East and Yorkshire, 13 patients have tested positive for coronavirus - an increase of three cases in 24 hours.

Officials have so far confirmed three cases of coronavirus in West Yorkshire - two patients from Leeds who became infected while travelling to Iran and a third case, a woman from Ilkley, who picked up the virus in Italy.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says it is 'extremely well prepared' for further outbreaks of the virus and isolation pods have now been introduced at the emergency departments in Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Hospital.

The pods are intended to prevent the spread of the virus should further outbreaks occur.