Britain is being put into lockdown for at least three weeks as the Prime Minister tonight banned people from leaving the house in all but a few circumstances.
The dramatic measures mean people will only be allowed to go out for essential shopping, for exercise, medical appointments or to care for someone else’s medical needs, as the government ramps up measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.
People will also be allowed to leave to go to work, but only if 'absolutely' necessary.
Police have been given the powers to slap fines on anyone breaking the new rules, while gatherings of more than two people in public will be broken up.
Non-essential shops - including clothes outlets - are to close, along with places of worship and libraries.
Parks will remain open, in order for people to get exercise.
In a statement to the nation following tonight’s latest Cobra planning meeting, Boris Johnson called coronavirus an ‘invisible killer’ and thanked the country for its efforts so far in slowing its spread.
But he said ‘without a huge national effort’ there would come a moment where no health service in the world would be able to cope and would have too few staff, intensive care beds and ventilators.
“That is the moment of real danger," he said, adding: “If too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it, meaning more people will be like to die, not just from coronavirus.”
The dramatic measures mark a stark escalation in the government's coronavirus response and follow a weekend in which concerns grew over the public’s adherence to existing social distancing advice, which had seen schools, pubs and restaurants close on Friday.
Mr Johnson said that while ‘huge numbers are complying’ with that guidance, ‘the time has come for us all to do more'.
“From this evening I must give the British people a v simple instruction: You must stay at home,” he said.
Listing the activities people will be allowed to do outside the home, he said ‘these are the only reasons you should be leaving home’, adding that people should not accept invitations to see friends or family members who live in different households.
The time bought by ‘simply staying at home’ would buy the NHS more time to increase its supply of staff, ventilators and tests, he said, adding: “I urge you at this moment of national emergency to stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives.”
Further detailed guidance on the measures, which will be reviewed in three weeks’ time, is due this evening.
