Coronavirus: Pensioners could be warned to stay at home as confirmed cases of disease pass 100,000 worldwide

There have been 100,000 confirmed cases of the disease worldwide since the outbreak started in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

As of 9am on Friday,163 people had tested positive for Covid-19 in Britain - up from 115 cases reported at the same time on Thursday.

A man in his early 80s has become the second person to die in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.

The man, who had underlying health conditions, died on Thursday while being treated at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

It comes as Government ministers are next week expected to advise elderly people to visit relatives now before ‘social distancing’ policies are introduced.

British pensioners could be warned to stay at home and will likely be told to avoid crowded areas, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Meanwhile, ministers are said to be in talks with retailers and delivery companies about providing supplies to vulnerable people who are self-isolating, the newspaper reported.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed on Friday night that a man in his early 80s died shortly after testing positive for coronavirus.

In a statement, the trust said: ‘His family has been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at what is undoubtedly a difficult and distressing time.

‘The hospital continues to work with Public Health England to isolate any patients or staff who had contact with the patient.'

The trust said all services and appointments at the hospital were ‘running normally’ and that it was following advice to minimise the risk of the virus spreading.

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said work was already under way to establish who the man had come into contact with.

He said: ‘I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their request for privacy is respected.

‘The patient, who was being treated at the Milton Keynes University Hospital, was an older patient who had underlying health conditions. Contact tracing is already under way.’