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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) | |
| 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 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. |
| Boris Johnson 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. |
| More than 1,500 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK - but the actual number of cases is estimated to be between 35,000 and 50,000. | More than 1,500 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK - but the actual number of cases is estimated to be between 35,000 and 50,000. |
| 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: | |
| Chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said the group of people who should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" were: | Chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said the group of people who should take "particular care to minimise their social contact" were: |
| Mr Johnson said "drastic action" was needed as the UK approaches "the fast growth part of the upward curve" in the number of cases. | Mr Johnson said "drastic action" was needed as the UK approaches "the fast growth part of the upward curve" in the number of cases. |
| 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". | 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". |
| The first death in Wales, and a death in Scotland, brings the total number of deaths in the UK to 55. | The first death in Wales, and a death in Scotland, brings the total number of deaths in the UK to 55. |
| "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. | "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. | 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' in cases | '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. | Sir Patrick said the UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy. |
| Italy, the worst-affected nation outside China - where the virus originated - has more than 20,000 cases and has suffered more than 1,800 deaths. | Italy, the worst-affected nation outside China - where the virus originated - has more than 20,000 cases and has suffered more than 1,800 deaths. |
| 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. |
| Whole households to stay at home | Whole 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". |
| Why are they pressing the 'nuclear button' now? | Why are they pressing the 'nuclear button' now? |
| This marks a significant shift from the position last week. | This marks a significant shift from the position last week. |
| It was envisaged any further ramping up of the measures would be some time away. | It was envisaged any further ramping up of the measures would be some time away. |
| But ministers have pressed the nuclear button now. | But ministers have pressed the nuclear button now. |
| What's more, they have taken extra steps beyond what was floated previously by asking everyone to reduce their social contact - whether it's working from home or avoiding pubs and theatres. | What's more, they have taken extra steps beyond what was floated previously by asking everyone to reduce their social contact - whether it's working from home or avoiding pubs and theatres. |
| Why? Some believe the criticism of their strategy - just this afternoon the World Health Organization called for stronger measures than the UK was taking - has spooked them. | Why? Some believe the criticism of their strategy - just this afternoon the World Health Organization called for stronger measures than the UK was taking - has spooked them. |
| But officials also believe we are on the "cusp" of a major upswing - and there is genuine concern about the impact on the NHS. | But officials also believe we are on the "cusp" of a major upswing - and there is genuine concern about the impact on the NHS. |
| In France health officials have warned hospitals are beginning to struggle. This comes after Italy's well-documented struggles. | In France health officials have warned hospitals are beginning to struggle. This comes after Italy's well-documented struggles. |
| The NHS will now be stepping up its emergency plans, including cancelling routine work. | The NHS will now be stepping up its emergency plans, including cancelling routine work. |
| Further testing | Further testing |
| More than 44,000 people in the UK have been tested for the virus. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | 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". | 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. | Public Health England (PHE) was "very rapidly" developing such a test, he added. |
| What's happening elsewhere? | What's happening elsewhere? |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |