COVID-19 could put fifth of UK staff off work: government

Up to one fifth of employees could be off work in Britain when the coronavirus outbreak peaks, the government said Tuesday outlining a new action plan.

Britain had 51 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 9:00 am (0900 GMT), an increase of 12 in 24 hours, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the count was "highly likely" to keep rising. Globally, more than 3,100 people have died and over 90,000 have been infected.

But the British premier said: "For the overwhelming majority of people who contract the virus, this will be a mild disease from which they will speedily and fully recover."