A total of 55 people in the UK have now died after testing positive for the coronavirus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

This is a rise of 19 deaths in a 24-hour period.

Making the announcement in the House of Commons, Health Secretary Matt Hancock called the coronavirus pandemic "the most serious public health emergency that our nation has faced for a generation".

Mr Hancock said: "Our goal is to protect life. Our actions have meant that the spread of the virus has been slowed in the UK and I want to pay tribute to the officials at Public Health England and the NHS for their exemplary approach to contact tracing and their work so far.

"However, the disease is now accelerating and 53 have sadly now died. Our hearts across this whole house go out to their families."


The announcement came after two more deaths - one each - in Wales and Scotland.

Earlier in the day, the Department of Health announced that as of 9am on Monday, the number of UK coronavirus cases had risen to 1,543 - up by 171 in 24 hours.

Mr Hancock added that emergency legislation will be introduced to MPs on Thursday, with the aim of giving the government new powers to keep public services on track during the outbreak.

He also said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken to manufacturers today by phone, asking them to produce much-needed ventilators for the health service.

Downing Street put out a call for the equipment over the weekend, over fears intensive care units in the NHS could soon face unprecedented demand for them.

Coronavirus: PM urges Britons to avoid pubs, restaurants and theatres

Speaking in the first of the newly announced daily press conferences on the outbreak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Britons to avoid pubs, clubs, restaurants and theatres and to only make essential journeys in the "national fightback" against coronavirus.

He added that the number of coronavirus cases in the UK could double every five or six days without "drastic action".

"Today, we need to go further, " Mr Johnson said.

In Europe, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a 30-day ban on non-essential foreign travel to the EU. The proposal will be discussed with member states tomorrow.

An official earlier said: "Ireland and Britain are encouraged to align."

In other coronavirus developments:

Globally more than 169,000 have tested positive and over 7,000 have died

Virgin Atlantic asks staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave as it parks up 85% of planes

as it parks up 85% of planes EasyJet to ground majority of its fleet on a rolling basis

IAG, British Airway's parent company, will cut flights by at least 75% in April and May

British granddad died 'after contracting virus from skier in restaurant'

Italy records 368 more deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, its biggest one day rise

France is preparing to put the country under partial lockdown to combat the pandemic

FTSE 100 fell by 8.7% on opening, settling to 7.2% with a loss of about £95bn on Monday

A British man in Vietnam is seriously ill with COVID-19 and is on a ventilator

The free TV licence for over-75s will end on 1 August instead of 1 June because of the outbreak

Shapps: Our approach is science-led, not popularist

A Public Health England briefing seen by Sky News claims the coronavirus could see up to 7.9 million people requiring hospital treatment in the UK over the next 12 months.

The document also confirms that healthcare workers who have symptoms of COVID-19 would not necessarily be tested.

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty has previously said up to 80% of the population could catch the virus in a worst-case scenario.

On Sunday, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the elderly could be asked to self-isolate for up to four months.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Monday that people over the age of 70 will be asked to self-isolate "as and when the moment is right" - but that they would still be able to go outside and "walk the dog".

He said: "We will ask people to do that as and when the moment is right."

Those who refuse to self-isolate or fail to comply with restrictions could face a fine of up to £1,000.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is due to meet school leaders to discuss the implications of closing schools and postponing exams.