Five more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said.

The new cases bring the UK total to 278.

A statement on the website said:

“Testing of patients in Northern Ireland has resulted in five new presumptive positive results for coronavirus (Covid-19) bringing the total to 12 since testing began.

“Contact tracing from these five cases is being conducted by Public Health Agency staff.

“A more detailed update will be provided on the situation tomorrow when this contact tracing work is at a more advanced stage.”

The number of cases from the new coronavirus has topped 100,000 worldwide as official Chinese data showed a significant hit to the country’s exports after the outbreak caused massive disruptions to business operations and economic activity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called the spread of the virus “deeply concerning” as a wave of countries reported on Saturday their first cases of the COVID-19 disease, which has now killed nearly 3,500 people and infected more than 100,000 across 92 nations and territories.

In South Korea, authorities reported hundreds of new cases of infections on Saturday, bringing the total above 7,000, while the United States was battling to contain an outbreak on the Grand Princess cruise ship where 21 people have tested positive for the virus.