First death in UK from Coronavirus recorded

UK to prepare for 'significant' spread of coronavirus: Boris Johnson

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Britain has recorded its first death in the new COVID-19 outbreak, England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty said.

"I am very sorry to report a patient in England who tested positive for COVID-19 has sadly died," he said in a statement, according to AFP news agency, adding the patient at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, west of London, was elderly and had "underlying health conditions".

At least 115 people had been infected in the UK as of Thursday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman has said on Thursady that UK officials will accelerate preparations for the next phase of the coronavirus outbreak, which they expect to spread in a "significant way."

"It is now highly likely that the virus is going to spread in a significant way," the spokesman said, according to Reuters news agency. 

"Officials will therefore accelerate work on preparations for the 'delay' phase of the government’s plan, focusing on steps we could take to seek to delay the spread of the virus."