Coronavirus: How many confirmed cases are there in your area?

A total of 2,626 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK – but the actual number of cases is estimated to be between 35,000 and 50,000.

The number of deaths is now 104, according to the latest figures available. Some 53,595 people in the UK have been tested for the respiratory infection.

All schools in the UK will close from Friday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced, following a ramping up of measures to tackle the outbreak on Monday.







The following charts and graphics will help you understand the situation in the UK and how the authorities are dealing with it.

1. The UK has changed course

The new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease known as Covid-19, was first confirmed in the UK at the end of January.

While there were a number of people testing positive throughout February, figures in the UK began to increase at the beginning of March.

On Monday 16 March, Prime Minster Boris Johnson announced significant new measures to slow the spread of the virus, including: working from home where possible; stopping all unnecessary travel and for over 70s to self isolate at home in the coming weeks.

The number of people that have died from the virus in the UK has now risen to 104 according to the latest figures on 18 March.

Confirmed UK figures are lower than other European countries, such as Italy, for example, where there have been more than 35,000 cases and almost 3,000 deaths, according to 18 March figures from the Johns Hopkins University.

Globally, authorities have confirmed more than 200,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 8,000 deaths.

There have now been more than 116,000 cases outside China – overtaking the 82,000 in the country where the virus originated in December.

2. We are in the second phase of the government’s response

The government has published its action plan for dealing with the virus, which involves three phases – contain; delay; mitigate – alongside ongoing research.

While the emphasis has been on the contain and research phases up until this week, the country has now moved to the “delay” phase to stop the wider spread of the virus.

As part of the delay phase, people with even mild coronavirus symptoms – defined as a temperature above 37.8 C or a “new, continuous” cough – are being asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days to protect others and help slow the spread of the disease.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, that even if you have no symptoms, you should still:

Stop all non-essential contact with others

Stop all unnecessary travel

Work at home where possible

Avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other social venues

The government is now encouraging self-isolation at home for over 70s, and those more vulnerable to the virus, for 12 weeks from Friday.

British nationals should also avoid all non-essential foreign travel to tackle the spread of coronavirus, the Foreign Office has advised.

If the virus becomes even more widespread, the government may then decide to enter the third phase of mitigation, when health services are asked to focus on critical care and retired NHS staff could be asked to return to work.

3. People who think they have coronavirus should self-isolate

If you have a “new, continuous” cough or high temperature and think you have coronavirus you are advised not to go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Instead, you and the people you live with should self isolate for 14 days.

If symptoms persist you should contact the NHS’s dedicated 111 online coronavirus service or call 111.