LONDON, March 18 (Xinhua) - The number of people tested positive for COVID-19 in Britain reached 2,626 as of Wednesday morning, according to the latest figure from the Department of Health and Social Care.

A restaurant employee stands by empty tables in a quiet Covent Garden in central London on March 17, 2020 after the UK government announced stringent social distancing advice including avoiding pubs and restaurants as a measure to kerb the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19.(Photo: AFP)

The figure marked an increase of 676 cases in the last 24 hours.