Another Northamptonshire coronavirus case confirmed

A ninth case of coronavirus in Northamptonshire has been confirmed by health officials today (Sunday).

Public Health England confirmed the positive test result in their daily update, with the UK total now at 1,391. A total of 35 patients who have tested positive have died.

It's not known where in the county the ninth person who has tested positive is or how they became infected.

Earlier this week Southfield School in Kettering closed after a person tested positive having returned from overseas. It's not known whether they are a pupil or member of staff.

A member of staff at a care home in Desborough has also tested positive.

The first Northamptonshire case was confirmed by the Department of Health on March 3, as a person who had recently been to Italy, which is the most-affected country in Europe.

KGH and NGH have since restricted their visiting hours.

The virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization earlier this week and has now affected more than 165,000 people. Almost 6,500 people have died.

The area with the most cases in the UK is Hampshire with 53.

Italy remains in lockdown with France and Spain now taking drastic measures in a bid to stop the spread. Poland and Denmark have also closed their borders.

In the UK virtually all sport has been cancelled - with AFC Rushden and Diamonds resorting to a game of Connect Four with league rivals Stourbridge earlier.

This evening the Northants Combination league has suspended all fixtures until April 4.

Poppies midfielder Alistair Smith has gone into self-isolation after he was taken ill with a fever yesterday.

A major business network event in Kettering has also been cancelled over coronavirus fears and earlier today it forced the postponement of the Crazy Hats Walk at Wicksteed Park.

Some shops have started rationing some household essentials and dried and tinned food because people are stockpiling, leaving shelves bare. Northampton General Hospital even said they are facing a shortage of hand sanitiser because relatives of patients keep stealing them from the walls.