British health authorities announced on Saturday that a further 148 people died of the novel coronavirus across the UK over the past 24 hours, bringing the total up to 44,798, as the country's prime minister suggested that face masks could be made mandatory in shops.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media.

The total number of cases in Britain is now 288,953, an increase of 820 over the past day.

A spokesman for Downing Street said Saturday that the British government was considering making face masks compulsory in stores.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was photographed wearing a face mask for the first time on Friday as he visited shops in his constituency.