LONDON, March 13 -- The British government on Friday postponed the local and mayoral elections in England slated for May 7 for one year, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country reached 798.

"We will bring forward legislation to postpone local, mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections until May next year," said a government spokesperson.

The postponement came after England polling watchdog recommended delaying the local elections to "mitigate" the impact of coronavirus.

The Electoral Commission said that there were "growing risks to the delivery of the polls" and "significant numbers" of people may not be able to cast their ballots, with the number of COVID-19 infections rising, according to the English newspaper Daily Telegraph.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Britain saw the highest 24-hour rise of 208. It is also the first time the day-on-day increase has been higher than 200.

A London Underground driver tested positive earlier on the day for the novel coronavirus and at least 11 MPs were in self-isolation following advice from public health authorities.

According to health authorities, the true figure for people infected with the novel coronavirus in Britain might be between 5,000 and 10,000.

Meanwhile, the Scottish government confirmed the first death in Scotland of a COVID-19 patient, bringing the total death in Britain to 11.

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