Coronavirus now pandemic Confirmed World Health Organization

The coronavirus outbreak has been officialy labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The number of cases increased outside China over the past two weeks, says WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

He said he was “deeply concerned” by “alarming levels of inaction” over the virus.

136,381 confirmed cases, 5,192 deaths globally.  UK cases reach 798

He called on governments to change the course of the outbreak by taking “urgent and aggressive action”.

“Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled,” he said.

“The challenge for many countries who are now dealing with large clusters or community transmission is not whether they can do the same – it’s whether they will.”

The UK National Lottery’s operator has reopened its offices after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

Budget Today announced help

The Bank of England cuts interest rates to 0.25% in an attempt to shore up the economy amid the coronavirus outbreak.

UK health minister Nadine Dorries says she has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating.