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| Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'within weeks' | Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'within weeks' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Action to isolate the UK's over-70s for an extended period to shield them from coronavirus is planned in the coming weeks, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed. | Action to isolate the UK's over-70s for an extended period to shield them from coronavirus is planned in the coming weeks, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed. |
| He told Sky News the measure "is a very big ask of the elderly and vulnerable, but it is for their own protection". | |
| The government has faced pressure to do more to tackle the epidemic after the UK death toll rose to 21 on Saturday. | |
| All deaths so far have been of people over 60 or with underlying conditions. | |
| The self-isolation measure would mean people being asked to remain at home without visitors and with vital supplies dropped off for them on their doorsteps. | |
| Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge, Mr Hancock was asked if the advice would be in place for four months as has been reported. | |
| He said: "We'll be setting it out with more detail when it is the right time to do so." | |
| But he added the reason the measure has not been implemented yet is the length of time required is "very long". | |
| The announcement comes as the government's strategy has been criticised by some scientists, who have written to ministers urging them to introduce tougher measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19. | |
| The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has reached 1,140, while 37,746 people have been tested. | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to urge British companies to join a "national effort" to produce more ventilators and other medical equipment "at speed" to help the NHS deal with the coronavirus outbreak. | |
| He will hold a conference call with industry leaders later on Sunday, Mr Hancock said. | |
| Work is also under way to buy up thousands of private hospital beds to boost NHS capacity should it be needed. | |
| An emergency bill giving the government temporary powers to tackle the outbreak will be published next week. | |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has asked for "urgent sight" of the draft laws and for a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the crisis. | |
| His party had already called on the government to publish the scientific modelling and data that it is using to form its approach. | |
| Meanwhile, a new public information campaign is to be launched featuring the UK government's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty and a voiceover from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy actor Mark Strong. | |
| In other developments: |