Public Health England’s Medical Director, Prof Paul Cosford told BBC Breakfast: “Our expectation is to see ongoing increases [in cases] for two to three weeks yet.”

Some 1,496,651 people have registered only symptoms associated with the virus since March 18, while almost a quarter of a million were assessed as potential patients via 111 and 999 calls.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tweeted: “Let’s be in no doubt this has been a sad, sad day.”