Coronavirus has entered a stage where it can no longer be contained in Britain and public health efforts must move towards delaying the spread, experts warned as cases soared.

Boris Johnson announced on Sunday the Government was establishing a 'war room' in the Cabinet Office, bringing together experts to respond to the growing crisis.

The Prime Minister admitted the situation will get worse before it gets better, and said there would "clearly" be more cases as the virus "spread a bit more."

A further 13 people tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, including the first case in Scotland. It brings the total to 36 - a 57 per cent increase and the largest rise to date.

Two of those diagnosed over the weekend had not come into contact with people from abroad, leading officials to fear the spread could be worse as patients are harder to trace.

Scientists said it may be too late to "stem the tide" and warned that preventing a community-wide epidemic was looking "increasingly unlikely".

Entire cities could close

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, suggested entire cities could be closed to stem the spread and police could be used to force people to self isolate in their homes.

The virus has now spread to 60 countries, infecting more than 87,000 people and killing nearly 3,000, including one British man who was quarantined on a cruise ship in Japan.