THOUSANDS of people have tested positive for coronaviurs over 24 hours.

The amount of confirmed cases is 14,579 as of 9am on Friday, up from 11,658 at the same point on Thursday.

Michael Gove said during the government's daily briefing that the infection rate had doubled every three or four days.

A total of 113,777 people have been tested with 99,198 testing negative.

As the disease spreads further and faster than ever, businesses, research institutes and universities will work together to increase testing capacity for front-line workers.

Mr Gove said that the new initiative will be "antigen" testing that will help prove if it is safe for a key worker to go back to the front line.