Coronavirus UK death toll rises by more than 100 in a day for first time

Fatalities include two elderly patients without underlying health conditions

An additional 115 people have died in the UK over a 24 hour period after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus, bringing the overall total in the country to 578, the Department of Health has announced.

The department added that the number of confirmed cases had risen to 11,658 on Thursday, up by more than 2,000 from the 9,529 instances reported the previous day.

The latest deaths were people between the ages of 32 and 102, healthcare officials confirmed. All but two, who were aged 71 and 86, had underlying health conditions.

It comes as officials change the way they report deaths by moving to an automated system to reduce pressure on NHS staff.

In a statement on Twitter, the Department of Health said it was "revising its reporting approach" for deaths across the nation. Yesterday the government department reported an increase to the tally of 28 deaths - however the relatively low rate only covered a period from 9am to 5pm on 24 March.

The latest 115 fatalities incorporate deaths from 5pm on the 24th to 5pm on 25 March.

It comes as pharmaceutical firm Roche reportedly strikes a deal with UK officials to increase the nation's testing capacity, according to Channel 4 News.

Citing health authority Public Health England, the broadcaster said the new machines would allow up to carry out up to 5,000 extra tests a day by the end of April.