Coronavirus: Hampshire cases of Covid-19 have quadrupled in just 24 hours as UK total hits 273

Public Health England (PHE) announced that as of 9am today the total number of people diagnosed with the disease in the county had reached eight.

This was up from the two confirmed cases from Saturday.

The total number of people with coronavirus has reached 273 in total across the UK, an increase of 67 in just 24 hours – the biggest daily increase so far.

More than 23,500 people have been tested for the virus in the UK, with two patients with Covid-19 having died.

The latest figures were published as Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a ‘national effort’ is required to tackle the outbreak.

PHE’s daily updating list of confirmed cases still says that there have been zero people diagnosed with coronavirus in Portsmouth and Southampton.

There has also been one case of Covid-19 on the Isle of Wight.

Mr Hancock has hailed the ‘good example’ set by a group of people released from hospital quarantine on Sunday, who had been repatriated to the UK last month from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

The group of 30 Britons and two Irish nationals are now allowed to leave Arrowe Park hospital in the Wirral, having been given the all clear from infection.