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LONDON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 33,718 as of Thursday morning, an increase of 4,244 in 24 hours, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

As of Wednesday afternoon, of those hospitalized in Britain who tested positive for novel coronavirus, 2,921 have died, up 569 over the same time on the previous day, the lastest figure from the department showed.

Still in self-isolation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his concerns over rising number of people using transport despite the escalating coronavirus outbreak.

"Yesterday's data showed more people were using transport than in previous days. Please do not leave your house unless absolutely necessary. It really will save lives," Johnson said Thursday on Twitter.

The prime minister entered self-isolation last week after testing positive for COVID-19.

To help frontline medical staff cope with the pandemic, researchers are developing more efficient tools for diagnosis.

A new rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19, developed by a University of Cambridge spinout company and capable of diagnosing the infection in under 90 minutes, is being deployed at Cambridge hospitals, ahead of being launched in hospitals nationwide, according to the university.