The worst case scenario, drawn up by the Government, is based on the prediction that 70 percent of the UK population will catch the disease. Currently 20 people are inflected across the UK, including one patient who was the first to catch the disease in Britain.

The worst case scenario, drawn up by the Government, is based on the prediction that 70 percent of the UK population will catch the disease.

Currently 20 people are inflected across the UK, including one patient who was the first to catch the disease in Britain.

Separately a man in his 70s became the first Briton to die from the virus, after being taken to hospital in Japan.

Speaking to The Telegraph officials involved in drafting the Government plan warned 70 percent of Britons could develop coronavirus, with 15 percent requiring hospital treatment.

The plan, due to be published next week, could also include some hospital operations being cancelled as health workers focus on coronavirus patients.

Based on pandemic guidance the document warns “critical care services may be at risk of being overwhelmed in a short, severe pandemic”.

Speaking on BBC Newsnight Ms Wharely insisted the Government is well prepared for the Coronavirus.

She said: “I can’t reiterate enough that we are well prepared.

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“Everybody has a part to play to help us be prepared. Just to take the basic steps, washing your hands thoroughly and effectively and carrying a tissue.

“There have been regular communications and there will be a plan published next week for the public.”

Emergency legislation could be introduced next week in case there is a sharp escalation in the number of UK cases according to Hugh Pym, the BBC’s health editor.

Separately the Premier League has refused to deny Liverpool could be denied the league title if Coronavirus forces games to be suspended.

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The Government could introduce emergency legislation as early as next week to speed up the disposal of bodies and allow children to be taught in larger class sizes should teachers catch the coronavirus.

Boris Johnson will chair an emergency ‘COBRA’ meeting on Monday and has declared fighting Coronavirus the Government’s “top priority”.

Under the Governments emergency plan military medics could be drawn in to assist civilian health authorities.

They would be backed by personnel from the British Red Cross and St John Ambulance.

Fears over Coronavirus have seen $5tn (£3.9tn) wiped off global markets over the past week.

The UK FTSE 100 fell by 823 points, taking £206bn off the value of the top 100 companies.

Conservative MP Nickie Aiken suggested Hyde Park could be turned into a morgue to deal with Coronavirus victims, before withdrawing the remarks.

She claimed there were “contingency plans to open up a morgue in Hyde Park, in tents” for “most of central London”.

However she later commented: “There are no plans to turn Hyde Park into a morgue.

“I’ve had that confirmed by Westminster City Council this evening.”

Former chancellor George Osborne said Mr Johnson should be chairing a daily Cobra meeting, saying the public needed to know that ministers had the situation under control.

“The British Government now needs to go onto a ‘war footing’ with the coronavirus: daily NHS press briefings, regular Cobra meetings chaired by the PM, ministers on all major media shows,” Mr Osborne, who now edits the London Evening Standard, tweeted.