A third patient has died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus, officials have confirmed.
The man, aged in his 60s, who had underlying health problems, died at North Manchester General Hospital having recently returned from Italy.
The announcement of the death follows confirmation on Friday that an 83-year-old great-grandfather had become the second person to die in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.
The man, who also had underlying health conditions, died on Thursday while being treated at Milton Keynes University Hospital.
His family paid tribute to him as a “truly loving and wonderful person”.
On Thursday evening, another patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with Covid-19, while at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has jumped to 273 in the the largest day-on-day increase in positive tests, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed earlier on Sunday.
Italy has now registered more cases of coronavirus than any country outside China, while its death toll has risen to 366.
After mass testing uncovered more than 7,300 infections, the country has followed China’s lead and has now locked down around 16 million people – more than a quarter of its population – for nearly a month.
A spokesman for Manchester General Hospital said: “We can confirm that sadly a patient being treated for Covid-19 has died at our specialist regional Infectious Diseases unit at North Manchester General Hospital.
“The man in his sixties tested positive after travelling to Italy and had a number of underlying health problems.
“Our thoughts are with the patient’s family who are being supported by our specialist bereavement staff.”
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: “I am very sorry to report that a third patient in England who tested positive for Covid-19 has sadly died.
“I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their privacy is respected.”
He said that contact tracing was already under way.