Coronavirus: Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in UK jumps to 87 as epidemic fears continue to grow

Two of the new cases are in Northern Ireland which brings the total number of cases there to three.

Three of the new cases were passed on from person to person in England.

The significant increase comes less than 24 hours after the second case of the deadly disease was confirmed in the south of Ireland on Tuesday.

There is only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in the north of Ireland.

“The Public Health Agency (PHA) is continuing to work with partners across the UK including Public Health England, as well as the Department of Health and health trusts in Northern Ireland, and the health service in the Republic of Ireland, on the ongoing global novel coronavirus response,” said a spokesperson for the PHA in the north of Ireland.

For the latest information on COVID-19 visit www.publichealth.hscni.net