Ten more people in the UK have died in the last 24 hours after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to 21, the BBC reports.

The UK government's chief medical adviser said the patients were all in "at-risk" groups from across England.

The total number of confirmed cases in the UK has reached 1,140 while 37,746 people have been tested.

It comes as US President Donald Trump has decided to suspend all travel from the US to the UK and Ireland.

Vice president Mike Pence said the ban will begin at midnight on Monday eastern standard time.

The 10 patients who have died in England were being cared for by nine NHS trusts including Buckinghamshire, Sandwell & West Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Barts, North Middlesex and Chester.

Prof Whitty, the UK government's chief medical adviser, said: "I understand this increase in the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 will be a cause for concern for many. The public should know every measure we are taking is seeking to save lives and protect the most vulnerable."

He gave his "sincere condolences" to the friends and families affected, adding "every single one of us has a role to play" in reducing the spread of the virus.

All of those who died had underlying health conditions and were over the age of 60, the BBC said.