LOC01:25
22:25 GMT
LONDON, Feb 28 (KUNA) -- The Department of Public Health and Social Care announced on Friday that the number of infections with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United Kingdom rose to 20.
As of 28 February, a total of 8,986 people have been tested in the UK, of which 8,966 were confirmed negative and 20 positive, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said in an update.
"The virus was passed on in the UK. It is not yet clear whether they contracted it directly or indirectly from an individual who had recently returned from abroad.
"This is being investigated and contact tracing has begun. The patient has been transferred to a specialist NHS infection centre at Guy's and St Thomas'.
"The total number of cases in England is now 18. Following confirmed cases in Northern Ireland and Wales, the total number of UK cases is 20," Prof. Whitty affirmed. (end)
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