The UK has moved from the "contain" phase to the "delay" phase of its approach to tackling coronavirus as its chief scientific officer warned up to 10,000 people could already be infected.
Britons displaying symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, have been asked to stay home for seven days from when symptoms first began.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a stark warning to the nation, saying more lives will be lost, and the peak of infections may still be weeks away.
"I must level with you, level with the British public — more families, many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time," he said.
"We are now getting onto the next phase in that plan because this is now not just an attempt to contain the disease as far as possible but to delay the spread and thereby minimise the suffering."
The UK believes it is about four weeks behind Italy in dealing with the virus and wants to delay the spread to lessen the strain on the health system before the peak of infections hit — which could be up to 14 weeks away.
"The most dangerous period is not now, but some weeks away, depending how far it spreads," Mr Johnson said.
Up to 10,000 infected: chief scientist
The UK's Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, said that between 5,000 and 10,000 people in the UK will already have the virus.
So far there are only around 600 confirmed cases, resulting in the deaths of 10 people.
"The actions we need to take is to delay the peak and to push the peak down," Sir Patrick said, adding that reducing the number of infections is important to the National Health Service.
"It is not possible to stop everyone getting it and not helpful, as we need to build immunity."
Schools not shutting, yet
Contrary to most other European nations, the UK will not be closing schools and public institutions yet, but have advised foreign school trips to be cancelled and those over the age of 70 with underlying health conditions to not go on cruises.
Professor Chris Whitty, the UK's Chief Medical Officer, said one positive of the coronavirus is that it appears not to affect children as much as adults.
"It is not our view they do not get infected — we think they probably do — but they seem to have a much milder disease," he said.
"Closing schools has big knock-on effects across society and has to be justified for very strong reasons.
"And the evidence for doing this appears to be quite weak."
Mr Johnson forewarned that further measures will likely come in the near future, including asking families to self-quarantine if any family member displays symptoms.
