Confirmed cases of the coronavirus have risen above 1,500 in the UK, the Department of Health has confirmed.

There are now 1,543 patients in the UK, an increase of 171 since yesterday, with 35 deaths reported.

It comes after the death of the first coronavirus patient in Wales, a 68-year-old who had underlying health conditions.

In Scotland, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rose to 171 – an increase of 18 from the same time the day before.

Health officials said a total of 44,105 people have been tested for the virus across the UK.

The UK could soon bank mass gatherings and ask the elderly to self-isolate.

A Public Health briefing seen by Sky News claims the coronavirus could hospitalise 7.9 million people in the next 12 months.

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

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• Coronavirus

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