Nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed in UK

As many as 1,950 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Britain as of Tuesday morning, according to the latest figure from the Department of Health and Social Care.

This marks an increase of 407 cases in the past 24 hours. The latest official number of deaths will not be released until later Tuesday. According to local reports, 56 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died after a second death was confirmed in Scotland.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Tuesday advised against all non-essential international travel, initially for a period of 30 days, which takes effect immediately.

"The FCO will always consider the safety and the security of British nationals, so with immediate effect I've taken the decision to advise British nationals against non-essential travel globally for an initial period of 30 days and of course subject to ongoing review," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs in the House of Commons (lower house of the parliament).

The change in the government's travel advice reflects the pace at which other countries are either closing their borders or implementing restrictive measures in response to the global novel coronavirus pandemic, according to the FCO.

Following intensive review, the British government has stepped up measures to fight COVID-19. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday called on people to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel.

He laid out a series of updated guidance to the public, including: if one person in any household starts to display symptoms, everyone living there will now be asked to stay at home for 14 days for self-isolation; people should start working from home where they possibly can; avoid social venues such as pubs, clubs, theaters, etc.; only use the NHS (National Health Service) when one really needs to.

Testing on patients in intensive care and isolated cluster outbreaks will be prioritized, said Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser to the British government.

Britain has tested more people than almost any other major economy outside of China, South Korea and Italy, said Health Secretary Matt Hancock in a statement to parliament on Monday.

"We have already increased the number of tests to 5,000 a day and this is now on its way to 10,000 and then radically further," said Hancock.