Government chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said there were 590 confirmed cases but it was "much more likely we've got somewhere between 5 000 and 10 000 people infected". Worldwide, the virus has so far infected more than 127 000 people and killed over 4 600, according to an AFP tally. Vallance spoke after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the outbreak, which has so far killed 10 in Britain, "the worst public health crisis for a generation", and warned it would get worse. UK health officials said most of the 5 000 to 10 000 people will not be aware that they have the virus, but it was clear the virus was circulating in the community. READ | F1 season opening may not go ahead because of coronavirusOn Wednesday, a former senior official at Public Health England accused the government of complacency.

Source: News 24 March 12, 2020 19:52 UTC