LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Monday said the number of confirmed coronavirus cases had doubled to eight as the government declared the virus a serious and imminent threat, giving it additional powers to isolate those suspected of being infected. It has killed more than 900 people, most of them in China, and has spread to at least 27 countries and territories. "Four further patients in England have tested positive for novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to eight," England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said. The new cases were all known contacts of a previously confirmed British patient in France, and were identified by public health officials working to trace possible cases. Health minister Matt Hancock declared the virus "a serious and imminent threat to public health", a step that gives the government more powers to isolate people.

Source: The Star February 10, 2020 07:15 UTC