British prime minister Boris Johnson has just announced a major ramping up of coronavirus measures.
Mr Johnson says there is a "clear way through", saying 7,500 former clinicians are now coming back to the NHS and that the government is buying millions of testing kits.
"No prime minister wants to enact measures like this," says Mr Johnson.
"I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people’s lives, to their businesses and to their jobs.
"And that’s why we have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business."
PM @BorisJohnson has announced that everyone must now stay at home except in exceptional circumstances, to protect our NHS and save lives. pic.twitter.com/U76ccAGVyE
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 23, 2020
Here are the major points of his speech:
- From tonight, people in Britain will be allowed to leave their homes for only “very limited purposes” - shopping for basic necessities; for one form of exercise a day; for any medical need; and to travel to and from work when “absolutely necessary”
- People are warned not to meet friends or family members who they do not live with
- Shopping is only permitted for essentials like food and medicine, and people are advised to do it “as little as you can”
- Police have powers to enforce the rules, including through fines and dispersing gatherings
- All shops selling non-essential goods, such as clothing and electronic stores, are ordered to close
- Libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and places of worship are to close
- All gatherings of more than two people in public - excluding people you live with - are banned
- All social events, including weddings and baptisms are banned
- Funerals are not included in the new restrictions
- Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed
- Restrictions “under constant review” and will be checked again in three weeks. They will be relaxed “if the evidence shows we are able to”
PM @BorisJohnson gives an important update on #coronavirus
— NHS (@NHSuk) March 23, 2020
#StayHomeSaveLives⁰⁰pic.twitter.com/zqatkgYPwF
This is not a lockdown, but it's as close as you can get to one without it being called a lockdown.
Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.
Fore more information please visit the government website here.
