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The patient had on Wednesday evening tested positive for coronavirus and has now died in Berkshire. A statement from Royal Berkshire NHS Trust said: "Sadly, we can confirm that an older patient with underlying health conditions has died. "The patient has previously been in and out of hospital for non-coronavirus reasons, but on this occasion was admitted and last night tested positive for coronavirus.

"The family has been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. "We will not be commenting further and ask that everybody respects the family’s privacy." Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, has said he is “very sorry” to hear of the death and offered his “sincere condolences” to the family.

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Professor Chris Whitty is the Chief Medical Officer for England

Professor Whitty said he believed the patient contracted the virus in the UK and is working to trace who they had been in contact with. The Chief Medical Adviser to the Government said: "I am very sorry to report a patient in England who tested positive for Covid-19 has sadly died. “I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their request for privacy is respected. "The patient, who was being treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, was an older patient who had underlying health conditions.

Boris Johnson has offered his sympathies to the family of the victim

“We believe they contracted the virus in the UK and contact tracing is already underway." Boris Johnson has also offered his sympathies to the family of the victim. The Prime Minister said: "Our sympathies are very much with the victim and their family. "But the situation is pretty much as it has been in the sense that we are still in the contain phase, though now our scientists and medical advisers are making preparations for the delay phase."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he will 'work tirelessly to protect the public'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "My sincere condolences to their family and loved ones. “We will work tirelessly to protect the public from this disease." Last week, the Foreign Office confirmed a British tourist who had been on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined in Japan, had died from the virus. Earlier today the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed the number of cases of coronavirus in the UK has reached 116. The number of cases has risen by almost a third since Wednesday when there was 85 people who had tested positive for Covid-19. Of those who have tested positive for the virus, 105 are in England, two in Wales, six in Scotland and three in Northern Ireland. READ MORE: London coronavirus panic: Sadiq Khan ‘will NOT get extra funding’

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