NINE people in Cumbria - including five in the south of the county -have tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) as numbers have soared nationally.

Furness General Hospital announced yesterday afternoon that a patient had tested positive for COVID-19.

And Castle Park School in Kendal informed families that a parent tested positive for the disease and had self-isolated.

Their children and family members are also in isolation, although they are not exhibiting any symptoms.

However, it could not be confirmed whether the parent was one of the nine confirmed cases in Cumbria at the time of publication.

Prior to yesterday’s announcement, four people from South Lakeland were confirmed to have tested positive for the virus, while four other cases had been confirmed in Carlisle.

A total of 456 people in the UK had tested positive for COVID-19 as of 9am yesterday, up from 373 on Tuesday.

This was the biggest one-day rise in the number of confirmed cases since the virus was first detected in January.

It was also announced yesterday that a sixth person in the UK had died from the virus.

Foluke Ajayi, chief operating officer at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are currently treating a patient at Furness General Hospital who has tested positively for COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

“The patient is being cared for appropriately and we are working with experts from Public Health England to provide advice to colleagues who have cared for the patient during their time with us as well as visitors.

“Our dedicated staff are used to managing infectious diseases and its important to stress that all our hospitals are operating as normal.

“We have received updated guidance for healthcare workers and will ensure we operate within these guidelines.

“If anyone has any appointment please attend as normal unless you are contacted by our teams."

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said: “Dealing with infectious diseases is something they do every day and hospitals have well developed plans and procedures in place.

"Having spoken with the trust it is clear they are implementing a sensible and proportionate plan to manage the situation."

The Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s annual partners’ dinner with South Lakeland District Council, which was due to take place at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal on Friday, has been cancelled.