Positive tests for coronavirus hit 1,500 in UK as first patient dies in Wales

The figure is up from 1,372 at the same time on Sunday, the Department of Health said.

Officials said 44,105 people have been tested in the UK, of which 42,562 were confirmed negative and 1,543 were confirmed as positive.

A person in their 60s has become the first to die in Wales after being diagnosed with coronavirus, Public Health Wales have said.

In Leeds, 19 patients have tested positive for the virus as of 9am on Sunday, with updated figures expected to be published later today.

The actual figure of coronavirus cases in the UK is likely to be much higher as those with mild symptoms are no longer being tested.

Public Health England (PHE) has now shifted its focus from looking at close contacts of people who were infected to looking at outbreaks, such as those in care homes.

A sample of the population is also being tested through wider screening of patients admitted to hospital for treatment.

PHE says this is a "robust surveillance programme... which will help us to understand the level of virus circulating in the community."

At the weekend Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested more than 10,000 people had been infected.