The jump in total coronavirus-related deaths in the UK from 578 to 759 is an increase of 181 - the biggest day-on-day rise in deaths since the outbreak began.

It represents an increase of 31 per cent on the total yesterday.

It took 13 days for the number of deaths in the UK to go from one to just above 100. It took a further eight days to reach the latest total of 759.

The Department of Health added the number of people who had tested positive for Covid-19 is now 14,579 as of 9am on Friday, up from 11,658 at the same point on Thursday.

A total of 113,777 people have been tested with 99,198 testing negative.

Of the 181 deaths, 168 were in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 689, the NHS said.

The patients were aged between 29 and 98 years old and all but four - aged between 82 and 91 - had underlying health conditions. Their families have been informed.

Meanwhile, England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has said he is self-isolating at home after experiencing symptoms compatible with coronavirus.

It comes after both the PM, Boris Johnson, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed they had tested positive for the virus.