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Coronavirus: PM says everyone should avoid office, pubs and travelling Coronavirus: PM says everyone should avoid office, pubs and travelling
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has said people in the UK should avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others to curb coronavirus - as the country's death toll hit 53. The PM has said everyone in the UK should avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others to curb coronavirus - as the country's death toll hit 55.
The prime minister said people should work from home where possible as part of a range of stringent new measures. Boris Johnson said people should work from home where possible as part of a range of stringent new measures.
Pregnant women, people over the age of 70 and those with certain health conditions should consider the advice "particularly important", he said.Pregnant women, people over the age of 70 and those with certain health conditions should consider the advice "particularly important", he said.
People in at-risk groups will be asked within days to stay home for 12 weeks.People in at-risk groups will be asked within days to stay home for 12 weeks.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons the number of people to have died with the virus in the UK had risen to 53 from Sunday's total of 35 - and "the disease is now accelerating". Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons the number of people to have died with the virus in England had risen to 53 - and "the disease is now accelerating".
In the first of a series of daily briefings on the virus, which causes the Covid-19 disease, Mr Johnson said "drastic action" was needed as the UK approaches "the fast growth part of the upward curve" in the number of cases. The first death in Wales, and a death in Scotland, brings the total number of deaths in the UK to 55.
Mr Johnson said that by next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks". In the first of a series of daily briefings on the virus, the prime minister - alongside the government's chief scientific and medical advisers - said the key new measures are as follows:
Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, said other measures may be necessary - including school closures - at some point. Mr Johnson said "drastic action" was needed as the UK approaches "the fast growth part of the upward curve" in the number of cases.
"We are in a war against an invisible killer," Mr Hancock said, adding that emergency legislation to tackle the virus would be introduced to Parliament on Thursday.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, said further measures such as closing schools may be necessary at some point.
"Those things need to be done at the right time," he said."Those things need to be done at the right time," he said.
'Fast upswing' 'Fast upswing' in cases
The total number of people in the UK to test positive for the virus has risen by 171 in a day to a total of 1,543, according to the latest Department of Health figures. The latest cases include 30 more from Wales and 18 in Scotland.The total number of people in the UK to test positive for the virus has risen by 171 in a day to a total of 1,543, according to the latest Department of Health figures. The latest cases include 30 more from Wales and 18 in Scotland.
Sir Patrick said the UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy - the worst-hit country in Europe.Sir Patrick said the UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy - the worst-hit country in Europe.
He added: "It looks like we're on the fast upswing or just about to get there and that's the reason to want to get in quite quickly with these measures."He added: "It looks like we're on the fast upswing or just about to get there and that's the reason to want to get in quite quickly with these measures."
However, the UK government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, added that the chance of dying with the virus "for any individual person" was "very low".However, the UK government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, added that the chance of dying with the virus "for any individual person" was "very low".
Most of those who have died in the UK have been people over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions.Most of those who have died in the UK have been people over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions.
Avoiding social contact Who should avoid social contact?
Prof Whitty said the group of people who should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" were:Prof Whitty said the group of people who should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" were:
"Those are the groups we want to take particular care to minimise their social contact which of course will have very significant risks for them.""Those are the groups we want to take particular care to minimise their social contact which of course will have very significant risks for them."
Whole households to stay at homeWhole households to stay at home
Prof Whitty said if one person in any household starts to display symptoms, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.Prof Whitty said if one person in any household starts to display symptoms, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.
Mr Johnson said the 14-day stay at home advice means people should, if possible, avoid leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials".Mr Johnson said the 14-day stay at home advice means people should, if possible, avoid leaving the house "even to buy food or essentials".
He said people could leave home to do exercise but should do so at a safe distance from others.He said people could leave home to do exercise but should do so at a safe distance from others.
Prof Whitty said social restrictions would be "very difficult for people to maintain" but they would be "doing it to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed".Prof Whitty said social restrictions would be "very difficult for people to maintain" but they would be "doing it to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed".
Further testing
More than 44,000 people in the UK have been tested for the virus.
People self-isolating with mild symptoms are no longer being tested - the government has said tests are primarily being given to hospital patients with respiratory problems, and to people in residential or care facilities experiencing outbreaks.
But on Monday the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said not enough tests were being carried out.
"We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test," he said - adding that the WHO has sent out almost 1.5 million tests to 120 countries.
Prof Whitty defended the UK's testing regime but said: "We do intend to continue to scale up testing."
He said tests only reveal whether or not people are currently sick - and that a test to show whether or not people had previously had the virus would be "transformational".
Public Health England (PHE) was "very rapidly" developing such a test, he added.