The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus has drastically increased by almost 200 overnight.

Latest figures from the Department of Health reveal that the number of deaths had gone from 578 to 759 as of 9am on Thursday (March 26).

So far, 14,579 people across the UK have now tested positive for COVID-19 out of some 113,777 people tested.

The increase is both one of the largest in terms of deaths and people testing positive for the virus.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both revealed they had now tested positive.

From their individual social media accounts, both Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock said they had been displaying mild symptoms in the past 24 hours.

Richmond MP and Chancellor Rishi Sunak is not believed to be showing symptoms of the virus and is not yet self-isolating, his spokesperson said.