UK confirms two new COVID-19 cases

Britain has confirmed two more cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 15, Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty announced on Thursday.

One of those infected caught the novel coronavirus in Italy, while the other picked it up in Tenerife, an island of Spain's Canary Islands, according to Whitty.

They have been transferred to specialist NHS (National Health Service) infection centers, said Whitty.

Meanwhile, Sky News quoted the headteacher of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, about 270 km northwest of London, as saying that the school is closed because a pupil's parent has tested positive for the virus.

Several other schools across the country were also closed. Some schools have sent students home amid fears they may have been exposed to the virus during trips to northern Italy.