The UK has had its biggest day-on-day increase for coronavirus cases, with an NHS hospital worker, her husband, a student and a Deloitte employee among the latest to test positive
Thirty-four more people have been diagnosed with coronavirus, bringing the UK’s total number of confirmed cases to 85 in the biggest day-on-day increase so far.
Three caught the virus in the UK, but it is unclear whether they contracted it directly or indirectly from someone who had recently returned from abroad.
Of the 34 new infections, 29 had recently travelled to the UK from countries or clusters which are under investigation.
The Department of Health said 16,659 people have been tested, with 16,574 testing negative.
The total stood at 51 on Tuesday and increased to 53 overnight after two cases were confirmed in the Grampian and Ayrshire areas of Scotland.
Only two cases of this nature have been identified so far.
One of the most recent cases involves an NHS hospital worker in Cumbria.
The woman, who is aged in her 30s and works at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, and her husband have both tested positive for the virus, the News and Star reported.
Colin Cox, director of public health at Cumbria County Council, said two Carlisle residents, including a member of healthcare staff at the city’s Cumberland Infirmary, had tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from a trip to northern Italy.
He said: “Since returning from their trip they have self-isolated. The member of staff did not come into work and has not had any contact with patients.
“The level of risk to the public has not changed and remains low. There is no need for anyone to cancel medical appointments.”
A spokesman for the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Cumberland Infirmary, said: “The trust can confirm that a member of hospital staff has tested presumptive positive for Covid-19 following a trip to northern Italy.
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