A nurse has shared photos of her packed morning commute just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation to order an unprecedented lockdown.
The most stringent rules during the coronavirus pandemic so far were announced last night - but nurse Michelle, who chose not to give her full name, posted photos of the conditions she was forced to travel in on her way into work this morning.
Pictures taken on the Central and Victoria underground lines in London show people packed in tightly with standing room only at 5.45am, as Michelle warned the situation was 'a catastrophe waiting to happen'.
She says there has been a noticeable surge in cases at work and she expects it to worsen 'over the coming days and weeks'.
"It’s making everyone’s job harder," she said. "No-one is adhering to the Prime Minister's advice.
"To continually go on overcrowded tubes is a catastrophe waiting to happen."
New lockdown rules have closed any 'essential' shops, and people have been told to make shopping trips for food as 'infrequent as possible'.
One form of exercise is allowed a day, such as a run or walk, but should be done alone or only with people you live with.
You are allowed to leave the house for a medical need, or to provide care or help to a vulnerable person.
Workers were also told they are able to travel to and from work, but only 'where work absolutely cannot be done from home'.
Transport for London has drastically reduced its service in the past week - with tube lines shut and 40 stations closed down.
Boris Johnson's plea for people to simply stay at home have been echoed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who wrote on Twitter : "LONDON: I cannot say this more strongly: we must stop all non-essential use of public transport now.
"Employers: please support your staff to work from home unless it's absolutely necessary. Ignoring these rules means more lives lost."
He added this morning: "Growing numbers of TFL staff are off sick or self-isolating: we cannot run more services than we currently are.
"If you have to go to work, please don’t travel at rush hour."
