A fourth person has died after being diagnosed with coronavirus, it has been revealed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs there are now "four confirmed deaths" connected to the coronavirus outbreak in the UK.

In a short statement, the Department of Health said: "The patient was being treated at the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital and had underlying health conditions."

The UK remains in the containment phase of tackling the spread of coronavirus, ministers have said, as the number of cases rose to more than 300.

As of 9am on Monday, March 9, the Department of Health said a total of 319 people have tested positive for Covid-19, up from 273 at the same point on Sunday.

Public Health England (PHE) will continue to trace close contacts of anybody diagnosed with Covid-19 in the containment phase, advising them to self-isolate at home to delay the spread of the virus.

Moving to the next delay stage would mean that social distancing measures - such as restricting public gatherings and more widespread advice to stay at home - could be brought in.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We remain in the contain phase, but it is now accepted that this virus is going to spread in a significant way and that's why officials have been working at speed on further steps we can take to delay the spread of the virus."

Last week, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty told MPs the UK was mainly moving towards the delay phase of its strategy to tackle coronavirus.

And deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said over the weekend the UK was "teetering on the edge" of sustained transmission.

Following Monday's Cobra meeting hosted by Boris Johnson, First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster said decisions to postpone major public and sporting events would be "led by the scientific advisers", adding: "We're still in the containment phase."

Coronavirus: Latest developments around the world

  • Global stock markets have suffered their biggest falls since the 2008 financial crisis, in a small part due to the coronavirus, as the oil price crashed. Trading was halted on the New York Stock Exchange for 15 minutes after the S&P 500 index fell 7%.
  • Disneyland Paris remains open but confirmed its first case among a worker there. Transport for London also confirmed a staff member had tested positive.
  • A pupil at the Rugby Free Secondary School in Warwickshire is self-isolating at home after being diagnosed with Covid-19, while the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) postponed its annual conference.
  • Three quarters of 402 GPs surveyed by GP online said routine appointments should be suspended in the event of a widespread coronavirus outbreak. One in five think this should happen now.
  • Professor Craig Jackson, from Birmingham City University, said handwashing advice may inadvertently reinforce obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)-type behaviour in some people.
  • University Hospital Southampton closed its surgical high dependency unit to new admissions after a staff member tested positive.
  • Environment Secretary George Eustice is holding talks with retailers on how to support vulnerable groups who may have to self-isolate, amid widespread stockpiling.
  • Public Health England (PHE) will roll out enhanced monitoring of flights from all parts of Italy from Wednesday.
  • Travel restrictions may be put in place for some people planning to travel to Vietnam after reports that seven Britons on a flight from the UK tested positive. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) would not comment on the figures.