The Prime Minister says that Britain can 'turn the tide in the next 12 weeks' as the United Kingdom continues to fight the spread of coronavirus.

In his daily evening press conference, Boris Johnson said that the UK can 'send coronavirus packing' providing that people strictly follow the guidelines set out this week.

Mr Johnson revealed that the first British coronavirus patient has been put into randomised drug trials today.

He also said that the country is getting better at testing and should an antibody test that is currently being developed prove successful, the government will quickly purchase hundreds of thousands of units, calling it an 'absolute game-changer'.

The PM reiterated however that it is 'absolutely vital' that people follow the advice given to the public to beat the pandemic.

He said: "Work from home if you possibly can. Wash your hands. Avoid public gatherings."

In an appeal to UK businesses, he added: "Stand by your employees, stand by your workers and we will stand by you."

Before fielding questions from national reporters, Mr Johnson went on record to claim that no one would be left behind in the current economic crisis unlike the banking crisis when only bankers were bailed out.

NHS England has confirmed that the death toll in the UK from coronavirus currently stands at 137.