Boris Johnson has confirmed he has coronavirus.

The Prime Minister made the shock announcement on his Twitter account, saying he was now self-isolating after developing mild symptoms in the last 24 hours and testing positive.

In other news the government announced yesterday there would be financial support for people who are self-employed as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to upend the country.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled yet another "unprecedented" package of measures, including a taxable grant worth up to 80% of average monthly profits over the last three years.

The Chancellor said the financial relief "matches" the provisions announced for employed people last week, in which the government announced it will pay 80% of people's salaries up to £2,500 a month.

He said: "I know many self-employed people are deeply anxious. To you I say this; you have not been forgotten. We will not leave you behind."

The self-employed scheme will be open to anyone with trading profits of up to £50,000, and available to those who are majority self-employed.

Self-employed workers will be able to access the scheme from the beginning of June, and will need a tax return from 2019 to apply.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the country also applauded NHS workers from their homes at 8pm last night.

Follow our live blog for today's coronavirus updates:

8.30pm

P&O Ferries is temporarily standing down 1,100 staff members in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The operator announced its decision yesterday and said it would be suspending its passenger services between Dover and Calais and focusing all its efforts on bringing in freight to the UK.

5.20pm

The government has announced two further temporary hospitals will be built in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, "with more to follow."

In today's government briefing, NHS chief Simon Stevens said he had given the go ahead on two more NHS Nightingale hospitals in Manchester and Birmingham.

He said: "We're taking the extraordinary action to build new hospitals in very short order, starting with the NHS Nightingale hospital in East London."

4.20pm

Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, is self-isolating after experiencing symptoms of coronavirus

3.20pm - prison outbreak

27 prisoners at 14 prisons have Covid-19, the Ministry of Justice says.

Additionally five prison staff have tested positive across five prisons and four Prisoner Escort and Custody Services staff.

The MoJ would not be drawn on whether at least one inmate at Cookham Wood, Rochester, has Covid-19.

2.17pm - 759 people have died in England

Latest stats from the Department of Health and Social Care have revealed 113,777 people have been tested and 14,579 have Covid-19. As of 5pm last night, 759 people have died, an increase of 185 in 24 hours - or just over one every eight minutes.

1.49pm - Brighthouse going into administration

The UK's largest weekly payment retailer, selling home furniture, appliances, and computing, has confirmed it will call in administrators on Monday putting 2,400 jobs at risk

1.42pm - light up for NHS

People across Kent are being urged to use Christmas illuminations to "light their houses blue" for heroic NHS and key workers.

Last night hundreds of thousands of people across the country clapped at their doorsteps in an incredible show of support for those on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus. Read more here.

1.02pm - Health secretary has Covid-19

Matt Hancock has also confirmed he has coronavirus. This is just hours after Boris Johnson took to Twitter to announce his illness too.

12.38pm - hospital shake up

Health chiefs say they are examining options for temporary hospitals to be opened across Kent to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Despite this, no sites have yet been identified. Read more here.

11.18am - Boris Johnson has coronavirus

Downing Street has confirmed the Prime Minister has Covid-19.

11.02am - self-employed package welcomed

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed the package of support offered to the self-employed as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a range of measures which would see the self-employed receive 80% of their profits - capped at £2,500 in line with the employee-focused coronavirus job retention scheme. Read more here.

10.47am - Spain numbers

The number of people who have died from Covid-19 in Spain has risen to 4,858.

10.28am - jobs filled

People who have been left out of work this week have been recruited by Co-op.

More than 5000 people have taken up temporary jobs which the superstore created last week.

10.05am - cashless communities

The GMB has warned rural communities across the country are being left cashless.

Many towns and villages already don't have branches or ATMs and they are now unable to use mobile banks as they have been suspended.

The union also says the cash-in-transit industry has seen a 70% drop in business.

9.53am - animal park needs your help

Port Lympne and Howletts wild animal parks are facing an "unprecedented crisis" as they struggle to fund their enormous £1.5m food bill during the coronavirus lockdown.

After being left with no choice but to temporarily close, bosses are now making a direct appeal to the public for cash and food donations. Find out how you can help here.

9.22am - restuarant donates to fire station

A restaurant in Kent donated their leftover food to their town’s fire station before closing their doors.

Wheelers Oyster Bar, which is based on Whitstable High Street, made the decision to close after pictures and videos were posted on social media of crowds of people packing out Whitstable seafront over the weekend in defiance of government advice to stay at home, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.

8.50am - BREAKING

All rough sleepers need to be off the streets by the weekend. The government has written to local authroities telling them they need to house the homeless during the coronavirus outbreak.

Read more here.

8.22am - retired police

Scotland Yard has written to retired police officers asking them to consider returning to work.

7.53am - Rochester Castle stands with NHS

7.46am - coronavrius abroad

The US now has more confirmed Covid-19 cases than China. There are almost 86,000 cases in America, which makes up 16% of the world's total of 532,000.

CHina has almost 82,000 and Italy has 80.500.

7.35am - parking ticket for man in self isolation

A man who was told to leave his job to self-isolate after coming down with coronavirus symptoms says he has repeatedly been given parking tickets for parking outside his own house.

Peter Pratt from Chatham was told to go home on March 17 after he felt ill. Read more here.

7.28am - this is how food is still getting to your shelves

As supply chains come under strain during the coronavirus pandemic, the freight transport industry is playing a central role in keeping our shelves stocked.

Retailers in Kent selling essential goods such as food and medicine are having to reconfigure their operations day by day to meet changes in demand from a public ordered to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. Read more here.

7.14am - clap for our carers

Millions of people took to the street to applaud the people on the frontline of the fight against this virus

7.09am - latest headlines from overnight

Labour has criticised Rishi Sunak's measures saying they will be "too late for some" as payments won't be ready until the end of June.

The chancellor announced he is unveiling a £9 billion financial package for the self-employed.

Firefighters will help the NHS fight the virus. The Fire Brigades Union reached an agreement with bosses that crews wil deliver food and medicine to the most vulnerable for the next two months.

And finally, the housing secretary is urging people to delay moving house until after the virus.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Kent