The British government's science advisers have warned that reinfections with COVID-19 are "to be expected" as the virus continues to spread in the country.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced a new three-level COVID-19 alert system that will be implemented across England, with Liverpool moved to the highest tier as the level being decided according to local infection rates.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Friday that the country has met the goal of 100,000 tests per day as another 739 people with novel coronavirus have died, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll to 27,510 in Britain.

The death toll of those hospitalized in Britain who tested positive for the novel coronavirus reached 7,097 as of Tuesday afternoon, a record daily increase of 938 since the outbreak began, the Department of Health and Social Care said Wednesday.

The United States and Britain braced for one of their darkest weeks in living memory on Monday as the social and financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic deepened. Italy, Spain and France saw signs that they are flattening the pandemic curve, but still reported hundreds of people dying each day.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Tuesday that the government will issue an emergency decree, which will be effective from Thursday, to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Britain has become the latest European country to go into effective lockdown to deal with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday sweeping curbs on everyday activity including the banning of any gatherings of more than two people who do not live together.

Major supermarkets plan to create tens of thousands of extra jobs across Britain to help keep shops open and stocked during the novel coronavirus pandemic.