That’s it for today’s UK live blog. We will be following more reactions to Johnson’s press conference and global developments here.
Summary
Here’s a summary of the latest coronavirus developments in the UK, including the announcements from Boris Johnson’s daily press conference this afternoon.
- Boris Johnson warned that if people continue to ignore social distancing in public spaces he would have to introduce tougher measures to enforce it.
- The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the police could be used to enforce these measures, while in Scotland the police were used to close pubs which refused to shut.
- About 1.5 million people who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus are being contacted by the NHS and advised to stay at home for 12 weeks.
- The government is setting up a network of local hubs to ensure these people still receive medicines, groceries and other essential items without leaving the house.
- Johnson also said the country was going to need “far, far more ventilators” as the virus continues to spread.
- Meanwhile, shops are coming under increasing pressure to close their doors, with Waterstones announcing a U-turn on its decision to stay open after staff expressed fears over the health risks.
- The first coronavirus case in an immigration detention centre was reported.
- Rish Sunak was criticised for failing to offer support to the self-employed in his coronavirus bailout package.
Updated
Boris Johnson finishes up today’s press conference by once again pleading with the public to observe social distancing to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The best thing that everybody can do, if you’re going outside, is observe social distancing, Stay two metres apart - it’s not such a difficult thing, do it.
Stay at home - that is the best way to help the NHS, and the best way to save potentially many, many thousands of lives.
Johnson thanks the public for their efforts and underlines the importance of staying two metres apart when outside, as well as staying at home. He says that the faster we do this, the faster we will beat the epidemic.
Updated
Jenrick says parcels will be free initially. Says if over time we can tailor it to individuals’ needs, this may change.
Updated
Dr Harries says small gatherings are perhaps riskier if people are close together. She says: “At the end of the day it relies on the public to make it work.”
Updated
When asked by a reporter when the government would consider using the police to enforce social distancing, Boris Johnson seemed quite incredulous.
“Bring in the police!?” he responded.
However, he reiterated that if people continue to ignore advice on staying apart, tougher measures would have be introduced – but still gave detail on what these tougher measures could be.
Updated
Dr Harries says over-70s identified by the initiative should not go out. Others should try to stay at home and follow social distancing. He stresses that we don’t want to increase mental health problems by “such a strict imposition” and says the outdoor environment is safer than an indoor one (because the virus doesn’t last as long).
Updated
Jenrick says if people have been missed, they can contact their hub or GP.
Answering a question about curfews and the police, Johnson reiterates importance of responsibly going out while observing social distancing. “If people won’t do it, we’ll bring in tougher measures.”
Dr Harries says the the 1.5 million have been identified through four routes: through a digital route, clinical referencing groups, trust and medical royal colleges, and adds that if you have not had contact you can raise it with your GP.
Dr Harries says letter will direct people to NHS mental wellbeing site as well as to hubs. She says that local authorities know their communities well and will be able to support individuals.
“The answer is always to be guided by the science,” says Johnson, stressing the importance of timing for a lockdown. “You have to wait until the right moment to do it.” The PM says shielding has been brought in at the moment of maximum exposure.
Updated
Johnson: The country needs "far, far more ventilators"
Boris Johnson said that, although there is a good supply at the moment, the country is going to need far, far more ventilators and a huge effort is under way to get these.
Harries said places such as London were starting to see “very significant” rises in cases.
In England, only 12% of adult critical care beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients at the moment, but that will change drastically throughout the epidemic, Harries added.
Updated
Answering a question on when a lockdown will come into place, the PM says we are trying to “push down on the growth curve” and get our NHS ready. He says we don’t yet know the effects of the measures already in place.
Updated
Dr Harries says “flexing of the system is designed to handle bumps” of cases, and that only 12% of adult critical care beds are taken by Covid-19 patients. He says all hospitals are stepping up their training, and that there is currently sufficient ventilator capacity.
Updated
Johnson says “we have a good supply of ventilators at the moment” but that we need far more testing kits and ventilators.
The UK’s case fatality rise changes as we move through the epidemic. “We will look back in due course and see the actual number of people who have died of coronavirus,” Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer for England says, but warns against comparing to other countries’ rates.
Updated
The prime minister is asked why social distancing measures aren’t being enforced more strictly considering evidence suggests they are not being followed.
“We’ve already taken some very draconian steps, we’ve closed the schools and a huge swathe of the UK economy ... a huge quantity of our normal daily life has been transformed.
“It is very important for people’s mental and psychical wellbeing that they should be able to get out and exercise. That’s why parks and open spaces are absolutely crucial.
“If people don’t exercise responsibly in the parks and green spaces, there is going to be no doubt we are going to bring forward further measures and we are keeping that under constant review.”
Updated
Boris Johnson says stricter measures will come if people don't follow social distancing rules
Johnson adds that if people do not observe social distances, stricter measures will be enforced. Stresses: “Stay home, protect our NHS and save lives.”
Updated
Johnson says “health benefits of keeping parks open outweigh epidemiological value of closing them”.
Jenrick says NHS letters will provide details for people to contact if they don’t have a support network “as a government and a society”. He stresses the scale of the challenge and says food parcels will take into account medical and dietary requirements.
Updated
Robert Jenrick, secretary for housing, communities and local government, outlined the steps being introduced to protect the vulnerable.
He said: “The NHS has identified up to 1.5 million people in England who face the highest risk of being hospitalised by the virus”.
They will be contacted by the NHS in the coming days urging them to stay at home and avoid face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks.
This includes people living with severe respiratory conditions, specific cancers, and some people with immunosuppressant conditions.
“I don’t underestimate what we’re asking of people. It will be tough,” Jenrick added.
Those living in the same household will not be required to take the same measures themselves, and carers can continue to visit.
For those who don’t have a network of family and friends close by, there will be a network of local hubs covering the whole country in “a major national effort”.
Medicines will be delivered by community pharmacies, while groceries and essential items will be delivered by local councils and food distributors working with supermarkets. These will be left on doorsteps. There will be opportunities for people to volunteer in this effort.
Updated
Answering a question on when stricter measures will come into force, Johnson says we’ve taken some “draconian” steps in transforming daily lives, and that it’s important for people to still be able to get out and exercise.
He adds that if people don’t act responsibly, stricter measures will be enforced.
Updated
The communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, has announced new shielding measures, which will involve up to 1.5 million people who are most at risk.
- The NHS will contact those at higher risk – asking people to not leave home for 12 weeks.
- Others in the household will not be required to follow the same measures – just social distancing measures. Carers can still visit.
- For those without a network, government will be setting up a network of local “hubs” – medicine and food to be distributed by local authorities. Parcels will be left on doorsteps – emergency services and armed forces will support this effort.
Updated
The government is now taking special steps to protect the particularly vulnerable – 1.5 million people in all.
“This shielding will do more than any other single measure or save lives.”
He also reiterated that schools are closed tomorrow – except for the children of key workers – and that people should take social distancing seriously.
“Don’t think that fresh air in its self automatically provides some sort of immunity.”
He said people should still stay two metres apart and follow social distancing advice. More measures will be implemented if necessary.
Updated
The prime ministers starts his daily press by thanking NHS staff, social care workers and the general public for their cooperation.
“I want to thank everyone who is being forced to do something different today. Everyone who didn’t visit their mum for Mother’s Day, but FaceTimed or rang or Skyped their mother today, thank you for your restraint and for what you did.
“Everyone who closed a restaurant or pub or bar, who would have done fantastic business on a day like today, thank you for your sacrifice, I know how tough that must be.
Updated
Boris Johnson holds daily coronavirus briefing
Johnson is stressing the importance of following social distancing advice – even to those who think they are “invulnerable” and are putting others at risk.
Updated
Latest UK figures
It’s Clea Skopeliti here, taking over from Jessica as the latest rise in UK coronavirus figures are announced.
- There have been 281 deaths in the UK - an increase of 47.
- The UK total number of confirmed cases is now at 5,700.
Updated
UK death toll rises to 281
The coronavirus death toll in the UK has reached 281, the government said – an increase of 48.
There are now 5,683 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK. This is a rise of 665 on Saturday.
Updated
A paramedic has described being evicted from his home because his landlady was concerned that he could spread Covid-19 at the property.
Joseph Hoar, a paramedic for South Western ambulance service, tweeted on Saturday night that he had been asked to leave his home within 24 hours because the owner was “super nervous about having someone from the NHS here”.
When you work as a paramedic for the NHS and you get evicted over a text by your land lady. Because of this I now won't be able to work my 12hr night shift tomorrow, so that means one less paramedic on the road. At these unprecedented times we need our NHS demand more than ever. pic.twitter.com/gfxbIykElq
— Joseph Hoar (@joseph_hoar) March 21, 2020
“It’s only a matter of time before you are in contact with the virus,” a screenshot of the WhatsApp message said. “Can you organise an Airbnb and collect your stuff tomorrow. Sorry I normally would never do this but it’s not worth the risk.”
Sarah-Jane Marsh, the CEO of Birmingham women’s and children’s NHS foundation trust, said that “nurses have been evicted from shared accommodation because people don’t want to live with them right now.
The homeless charity Shelter also said it had received calls for help from tenants threatened with eviction because of the coronavirus crisis, including from an NHS worker.
Updated
Waterstones closes stores after backlash
The Waterstones chief executive, James Daunt, has said all stores will close from Monday evening after staff raised concerns about the risk to their health by coming into contact with customers with no protection.
In an internal email, seen by the Guardian, Daunt said:
We take this decision with great regret. As I wrote previously, we believe books are needed more than ever at this terrible time, and that we provide important support to individuals and families as they confront extended periods in isolation.
Daunt added that staff had been told only to continue to work if they were willing to, but “we must be sure that everyone is truly willing ... it is only by closing we can be absolutely sure of this.”
The majority of staff will be placed on furlough, but a skeleton staff will be retained to manage deliveries, while the company will now shift to bolstering its online service.
Earlier, one Waterstones employee said: “We all feel at risk. Most of us have someone in our homes that is at high risk but on our pay we cannot afford to leave.
“There have been times where we’ve had to go off the shop floor to have a panic attack.”
Updated
From next week, those who are especially vulnerable to coronavirus will be able to register for government support.
People who have a health condition which makes them extremely vulnerable will be able to receive help, for instance in getting essential supplies.
The service is due to go live next week, and people will be able to register online.
NHS England is sending out letters to vulnerable people with certain health conditions next week to advise them on measures to protect themselves, including avoiding face-to-face contact for 12 weeks.
Updated
Police in Scotland have used emergency powers to close a number of pubs after they “recklessly” flouted the ban on bars and clubs from remaining open, and warned they could now lose their licence
Malcolm Graham, a deputy chief constable, said police were visiting those bars today to enforce the closure order announced on Friday night after pubs in Glasgow, Greenock and Kilmarnock were among those reportedly staying open over the weekend.
One publican in Greenock was quoted saying he would continue serving until forced to stop.
Graham said the police would impose emergency closure orders, which last 24 hours per order but can be extended, and report those who ignored the orders to local licensing boards. The force was also poised to use new emergency powers being introduced next week, as soon as they could
“I am aware that a small number of public houses are intent on defying this instruction and have indicated that they will remain open until legally ordered to close,” Graham said.
This is absolutely reckless and endangers not only the lives of customers, but wider communities, in an extremely fast moving and unprecedented situation where both the health and safety of the nation is at stake.
Therefore, I have obtained further legal advice today and Police Scotland will now instruct officers to serve emergency closure orders on any licensed premises which refuses to comply on the grounds of the threat posed to public safety.
Updated
As many people continue to go on pre-planned holidays, tourist boards across the UK have urged people to respect government advice on social distancing and unnecessary travel.
With schools closed and Easter holidays approaching, families are choosing to ignore calls to stay at home and limit social interactions.
Visit Cornwall asked holidaymakers online to “please stay away” to help reduce the speed that the virus was spread and avoid “needless lives being lost”.
A message from Visit Cornwall Would visitors please stay away and play your part in reducing travel and thereby reducing the speed of the spread of the virus and that is so important in avoiding needless lives being lost. We will love seeing you again later in the year
— Visit Cornwall (@ILoveCornwallUK) March 22, 2020
Cherilyn Mackrory, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth said the message to tourists was simple:
The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented situation and as a nation we must take the strongest measures to slow its spread and support our NHS.
The government’s advice on movement during this time is very clear: do not travel unnecessarily.
Coming on holiday during this time to Cornwall or anywhere else is not necessary travel.
My message to anyone considering travelling to Cornwall for a holiday at this time is simple: do not come.
The calls come as the Department of Transport and Network Rail announced significant transport reductions to provide more reliable services for key workers as well as the shipping of essential items such as food and fuel.
Similar measures on service reduction have been agreed by the Welsh and Scottish governments, which will be implemented from Monday.
On Sunday, north Wales-based Pario Leisure Group handed over two holiday parks and more than 250 beds to the NHS after its parks were forced to close to holiday guests and caravan owners.
Park owner Wyn Williams said it was important for people to help one another and “ensure spirits are kept high”.
Updated
Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon tells schools not to let students enter to finish coursework
Schools in Scotland have been ordered to cancel plans to allow 15- to 18-year-olds into classes tomorrow to complete exam coursework, Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, has announced.
Numerous secondary schools, including all those in areas such as Perth and Kinross, and others in Falkirk, Bishopbriggs and North Ayrshire, had told pupils in S4, 5 and 6 on Friday and Saturday they were expected to attend school on Monday to finish essential coursework. Private schools are also asking pupils to resit their preliminary exams, similar to mocks in England.
Sturgeon added that after a surge in the number of non-residents fleeing to Scottish islands to holiday homes or caravan parks, a clampdown on ferry travel to the islands had also been tightened further.
CalMac, the country’s main ferry firm, announced last week it would take no new bookings until July. Sturgeon said that from now on, Scotland’s ferry companies would only take bookings for essential travel. She also asked the countries hotels and B&Bs to stop taking bookings.
Sturgeon said since Friday she had spoken to the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which runs the country’s exams system, and had agreed this weekend to immediately cancel all course work classes.
She said schools still had an essential role to play to look after the most vulnerable children or those whose parents were key workers. A list of occupations who would get priority was being circulated soon, but intensive care unit nursing staff and critical care specialists were at the top of it.
She said the expert advice had not changed but they had realised over the weekend the virus was spreading through the community far faster than thought. “Therefore we need to do more to reduce the risks,” she said.
“Everybody should consider every time that they’re planning to come into contact with people whether that contact is necessary, and if it’s not necessary, don’t do it,” she said.
Catherine Calderwood, Scotland’s chief medical officer, said epidemiologists now estimated that any infected person could infect between four to six people. They had originally calculated it was two to three other people. That could lead to “an explosion of cases”, she said.
Updated
Primark is to close all 189 of its UK stores on Sunday and cancel all orders from suppliers as demand shrinks due to social distancing amid coronavirus crisis.
Primark boss Paul Marchant said:
We have large quantities of existing stock in our stores, our depots and in transit, that is paid for and if we do not take this action now we will be taking delivery of stock that we simply can’t sell.
This is unprecedented action for unprecedented and frankly unimaginable times.
Other high street retailers, such as John Lewis, TK Maxx, River Island and Timpson, have also announced closures amid the pandemic.
Doctors have said they feel like “lambs to the slaughter” due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) on the front line of the fight against coronavirus, according to the chair of the Doctors’ Association UK, Rinish Parmar.
Parmar is one of 5,000 health workers who have signed a letter to the prime minister calling for more PPE to protect NHS staff, their patients and also their families at home.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show today, Parmar said:
We’ve had doctors tell us they feel like lambs to the slaughter, that they feel like cannon fodder, GPs tell us that they feel absolutely abandoned, and we must really stress to the prime minister that we we need to protect the front line here.
Waitrose and John Lewis have outlined measures that will be in place from tomorrow to support NHS workers:
- All Waitrose shops will protect a proportion of deliveries of “hard to find” and essential stock exclusively for NHS workers to ensure they have better opportunity to access basic shopping items at all times of the day.
- NHS staff will receive priority checkout treatment in all Waitrose supermarkets either through a dedicated till or moved to the front of the queue.
- John Lewis is donating comfort items and Easter gift food to local hospitals, to support workers.
Berangere Michel, executive director for customer service at the John Lewis Partnership, said:
Through these steps we want to recognise the tireless work of NHS staff, supporting us all through these unprecedented circumstances.
We hope these measures make their life a little easier; our Partners are keen to do something to help, and we are offering this with sincere thanks from us all.
Earlier this week the John Lewis Partnership launched a £1m Community Support Fund, along with a protected shopping hour for the elderly and vulnerable.
Updated
Second death in Northern Ireland
An elderly patient with an underlying medical condition has become the second person to die in Northern Ireland after testing positive for coronavirus, the country’s Department of Health said.
As of 2pm on Sunday, testing has resulted in 20 new positive cases in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 128.
The total number of tests completed in Northern Ireland is 2,484. A total of 44 were aged 44 or under, another 44 aged 45-69 and 40 were aged 70 or over. Males made up 73 cases and females 55.
The health minister, Robin Swann, said:
This heartbreaking news should bring it home to every one of us that coronavirus is a real and present danger across our community.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme this morning, First Minister Arlene Foster said enforcement of social distancing was needed in some cases to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Updated
Coronation Street and Emmerdale to stop production
Production on Coronation Street and Emmerdale will stop from Monday due to coronavirus concerns, ITV has said.
In a statement it announced:
ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday March 23.
We’ve been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the government’s latest health guidelines, to ensure we’ve episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer.
However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming.
We’d like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months.
Eastenders confirmed it has suspended filming earlier this week, while Home and Away, Australia’s popular soap, has also stopped production to protect to protect staff from the virus.
Updated
The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is facing mounting pressure to extend the coronavirus bailout to include the UK’s five million self-employed workers, as a survey reveals half would keep working if they had symptoms.
On Friday, Sunak said self-employed workers could access £94.25 a week in universal credit but he gave a far more generous deal to employees, who will receive 80% of their wages, up to £2,500 a month.
He is being lobbied to go further in the coming days or risk public health by incentivising self-employed taxi drivers, couriers and other gig economy workers and zero-hours contractors to keep working while ill.
According to a survey carried out on Wednesday and Thursday, 47% of the self-employed and 51% in “atypical” work such as those on zero-hours contracts would feel obliged to work even if they had the virus.
To help combat misinformation about coronavirus on social media, the NHS has been working with Twitter to ensure local NHS organisations have blue-tick verification.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about #coronavirus, so it’s really important to get your information from a trusted source. We’ve been working with @TwitterUK to make sure your local NHS organisations are blue-tick verified — so it's easier to know who to trust. pic.twitter.com/GHMLtdYnff
— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) March 22, 2020
The NHS is has been working with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to verify or ‘blue tick’ over 800 accounts belonging to NHS organisations including hospital trusts and local commissioning groups.
It has also worked with Twitter to suspend a false account posing as a hospital and putting out inaccurate information about the number of coronavirus cases, as well as publicly condemning homeopaths promoting false treatments.
Both Twitter and Facebook are now directing users to the NHS website if they search for coronavirus.
A man has appeared in court accused of making fake coronavirus test kits and attempting to send them across the world, police said.
Frank Ludlow, 59, of West Sussex, was arrested at a Post Office near his home on Friday after 60 Covid-19 treatment kits were seized by police in the US.
The kits, which were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection Agency officers in Los Angles on Wednesday, were labelled as “Anti-Pathogenic treatment” and had been sent from the UK, City of London Police said.
They allegedly contained chemicals which are “extremely harmful” when the user is instructed to wash and rinse their mouth with them, police said.
Police believe some of the kits could still be in circulation and urged people not to use them.
Tariq Sarwar, head of operations for enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said:
We are encouraging people with health concerns to seek advice from a registered healthcare professional and only purchase medicines they need from an authorised seller.
You should ensure you are buying your medicines and medical devices from a registered pharmacy or website only.
Detective chief superintendent Clinton Blackburn, from the City of London of Police, said: “If you have purchased one of these kits, it’s important you do not use it. Instead, report it to Action Fraud via their website or by calling 0300 123 2040 and quoting ‘Trinity CV19 treatment kits’.”
Number of deaths in Scotland rises to 10
The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Scotland has risen to 10, the Scottish Government said.
The death toll stood at seven this morning, and the country has 373 confirmed cases
First coronavirus case confirmed in immigration detention centre
The first case of Covid-19 in an immigration detention centre has just been confirmed by the Home Office.
The case is at Yarls Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire, which houses women and some family groups.
A female detainee has tested positive for the virus. Home Office officials say no one else, either staff or detainees, have tested positive.
Women at the centre are on lockdown and all are panicking. One woman told the Guardian:
We’ve been given a mask and a pair of gloves but they’re not very good. A bottle of hand sanitiser has been put on the landing but everyone has to touch the same bottle to open and close it.
A second woman said:
We are afraid of everything and everyone including each other. There are women from all different parts of the world locked up here. Some have asthma and they are particularly frightened.
The first confirmed case in an immigration detention centre comes in the middle of a legal action calling for the release of hundreds of detainees because of the risk of them contracting the virus within the confined and sometimes overcrowded spaces in detention centres.
Antonia Bright, chair of the organisation Movement For Justice which is providing telephone support to the detainees inside Yarls Wood, said: “There is no way that detention centres can manage the health needs of detainees in a pandemic.
Our experience is that they are overstretched with regular health emergencies let alone the kind of devastation that Covid-19 could cause in these centres. These centres must be emptied and shut down as a matter of urgency. Every delay puts the lives of detainees and staff in danger.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “A woman at Yarl’s Wood IRC tested positive for coronavirus and following guidance from Public Health England, was placed in isolation after displaying symptoms. No other staff or detainees have tested positive for coronavirus.
“Immigration Enforcement is responding to the unique circumstances of the coronavirus outbreak and decisions to detain are made on a case-by-case basis, following the guidance from Public Health England.
“Our priority is to maintain the lawful detention of the most high-harm individuals, including foreign national offenders.”
The wide range of key workers whose children can still access schools when they close next week has led to an “overwhelming” demand for places, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers has said.
In a video message, Paul Whiteman said:
The key workers list is very wide and may prove impossible for schools to support unless the parents of these children take very good decisions.
If you can find care for children elsewhere, please make sure they are cared for away from school.
We are getting reports of an overwhelming demand for places. This was not the plan. The plan was always to care for the very few who have nowhere else to go to help halt the spread of the virus.
While schools are closed to the majority of children next week, vulnerable children and the children of key workers including health, transport, local and national government workers, can still send their children in.
He added: “Please approach your school not with a sense of entitlement, but with a sense of cooperation and mutual support within your community. We need to look after one another right now.”
AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM NAHT.
— NAHT (@NAHTnews) March 22, 2020
Only leave your child at school if you have no other choice.
Please, please watch and share this important video message from our general secretary Paul Whiteman. pic.twitter.com/36PR3rUzEB
More than 5,000 former nurses have registered to offer their services in the fight against coronavirus, the Nursing and Midwifery Council has confirmed.
🚨 UPDATE 🚨
— The NMC (@nmcnews) March 22, 2020
As of 11:30am today, we have received 5️⃣6️⃣3️⃣3️⃣ applications from across the UK to join the #COVID19 temporary register!
Thank you, we are incredibly grateful to you. pic.twitter.com/tgzTQTyGOT
The temporary Covid-19 register will only come into force if emergency coronavirus legislation is passed by parliament and the health secretary declares a state of emergency.
Updated
The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, issued a stark warning to those in the capital today, saying that unless people stop interacting with each other, more people will die and police may have to enforce social distancing rules.
Speaking on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show, Khan said:
I’m quite clear that unless people stay at home, unless people stop using public transport, unless it’s essential, unless people stop interacting with each other, more people will die.
Please, please, please stop mixing, stay at home.
He added that while “it’s really important that the police are focused on the priorities they’ve got”, if people continued to ignore social distancing advice, they could be drafted in to enforce the measures.
Updated
More national parks and gardens across the country are closing as, despite government advice on social distancing, good weather and Mother’s Day celebrations continue to draw crowds to attractions.
Organisations such as Chatsworth House, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the National Trust made the decision in order to “restrict the spread of the coronavirus”, after visitor numbers remained high on Saturday.
Chatsworth chief executive, Stephen Vickers, said the decision had “not been taken lightly”. He said:
The situation is enormously complex and fast-moving, and we believe that taking decisive action to help implement effective social distancing is in the best interests of all of our visitors and staff, and is part of the collective national effort to help contain the coronavirus.
An RHS spokesman said its gardens had remained “very busy” on Saturday and that it could no longer “guarantee the Government’s requirement for social distancing”.
Meanwhile, the National Trust director general, Hilary McGrady, said the organisation would be taking measures to ensure that people do not lose their connection with nature, and that sites of natural beauty remain open “virtually”. She said:
We know that people are likely to need space and fresh air in the coming weeks and months and we will do all we can to provide access wherever possible.
Over the coming weeks, our digital platforms – our website, social media feeds, podcasts and video – will become even more important, ensuring the places of nature, beauty and history that we care for on behalf of the nation can remain open for business virtually while we are temporarily closed.
A spokesman for the Royal Parks said their venues would remain open for the time being, though cafes and kiosks have been closed.
They added: “If people do not follow social distancing guidelines, we will have no choice but to close the parks.”
We will keep this situation under constant review. If people do not follow social distancing guidelines, we will have no choice but to close the parks.
— The Royal Parks (@theroyalparks) March 22, 2020
Updated
People with underlying health conditions including severe asthma and specific cancers are being urged to stay at home “at all times” to protect themselves against coronavirus.
People who fall into the high-risk categories should avoid any face-to-face contact for at least 12 weeks, the government said.
Those at risk will receive a letter from NHS England and should implement the measures from the day they receive it, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.
People who are most at risk include:
- Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer, as well as those with cancers of the blood or bone marrow who are at any stage of their treatment.
- People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer.
- Those undergoing targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors.
- People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the past six months or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
- Those with respiratory conditions including severe asthma, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.
- Pregnant women who have significant heart disease.
The DHSC said people with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase infection are also classed as high-risk.
Those with serious health conditions face the highest risk of needing hospital treatment for Covid-19 according to the DHSC.
The measures advise people not to leave their home, attend any gatherings, or go out for shopping, while deliveries should be left at the door to minimise contact, the DHSC said.
People living with others in the same house are advised to keep two metres away from each other, use separate bathrooms where possible, and separate towels.
5,018 confirmed UK cases
There are currently 5,018 confirmed cases of people with Covid-19 coronavirus in the UK.
As 53 more people who had tested positive for the virus died in England, the UK death toll rose to more than 200 this morning.
NHS England said all 53 patients had underlying health conditions and the eldest was 94.
In Wales the death toll has risen to 12 as seven more patients died, while Scotland’s stands at seven and Northern Ireland’s remains at one.
Updated
Boris Johnson has tweeted to say that everyone should stay at home this Mother’s Day in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
He advised people to keep in touch my calling, texting or using social media instead.
This Mother’s Day, everyone should stop #coronavirus spreading.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 22, 2020
Keep your mum safe. Stay at home.#StayHomeSaveLives #MothersDay pic.twitter.com/6OQ7cGm57w
Earlier in the week Johnson was criticised for saying during a press conference that he hoped to be able to see his mother on Sunday, contradicting official social distancing advice.
Aides clarified afterwards that the prime minister was referring to seeing his mother, Charlotte, via Skype.
Welcome to today’s coverage of the coronavirus crisis in the UK. This is Jessica Murray and I’ll be taking you through the latest developments and stories for the afternoon.
Wales has said a further seven people have died after contracting coronavirus - taking the total number of deaths during the pandemic to 12. All those who died were over 70 and had underlying medical conditions.
Meanwhile, police could use emergency powers to enforce rules on social distancing and reduce the further spread of coronavirus, the London mayor has said, amid concerns about mixed messages from central government on the issue.
Shops are coming under continued pressure to close their doors in order to stop the close contact of customers, which goes against social distancing guidelines.
Timpson is the latest retailer to announce it is closing, with all 2,150 outlets shutting their doors by 23 March. Chief Executive James Timpson said the business is going into hibernation but all staff will remain on full pay.
We are temporarily closing all our 2150 shops by Monday March 23rd at 5pm, and going in to hibernation...we hope it won’t be for too long. All our wonderful colleagues will remain on full pay, and will look forward to seeing you when we re open. Thank you.
— James Timpson (@JamesTCobbler) March 22, 2020
Meanwhile, Waterstones is trending on Twitter following a backlash over the company’s decision to remain open.
Staff said they have not been provided with any personal protective equipment and are being put at risk by close contact with customers.
Last week James Daunt, the managing director of Waterstones, said the virus had led to “unprecedented demand” for books and a 17% increase in sales, calling for all bookshops to be kept open because they serve an essential purpose.
