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UK coronavirus: Boris Johnson announces strict lockdown across country UK coronavirus: Boris Johnson announces strict lockdown across country – live
(32 minutes later)
PM says people can only shop for basic necessities, limits exercise to one form a day, restricts travel only to and from essential work and tells UK to stay at homePM says people can only shop for basic necessities, limits exercise to one form a day, restricts travel only to and from essential work and tells UK to stay at home
Here’s my colleague Peter Walker on what the new restrictions mean for you:
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has backed the restrictions just announced by the prime minister, said:
Minutes after the prime minster’s announcement, police made it clear the details of the enforcement of the lockdown were still being determined.
Marin Hewitt, the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council who was at theCobra meeting this evening where the measures were approved, has said:
The swingeing lockdown brings huge challenges to police, including a dramatic change in the British style of policing.
It is seen as anathema to the British model of policing by consent, and officers being citizens in uniform: “There is absolute reluctance,” said one source. “It’s a total change of policing style.”
Officers will hope to use “persuasion” to convince those not complying, and want to avoid flashpoints.
With police forces expected to be stretched as officers go sick or have to self isolate, chiefs do not want to have to devote massive resources to enforcing the lockdown – and may not have them.
Police planners expect that as the pandemic spreads in the UK, between 20 and 25% of officers may be off work because they have the virus or are housebound themselves
And union leaders have lent their backing to the measures:
Other political leaders, including the first minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, have delivered their own addresses reiterating the new measures.
The former chancellor, Sajid Javid, has said:
One key provision that came out of Sturgeon’s press conference was that, while funerals were exempted from the lockdown, attendance must be limited to immediate family.
The chief medical officer for Scotland, Catherine Calderwood, says this is no longer a rehearsal for something that might happen. She stresses that lives will be lost if we do not change how we live our lives.The chief medical officer for Scotland, Catherine Calderwood, says this is no longer a rehearsal for something that might happen. She stresses that lives will be lost if we do not change how we live our lives.
Referring to enforcement, Sturgeon says this is not guidance or advice, but a “set of rules to be followed”.Referring to enforcement, Sturgeon says this is not guidance or advice, but a “set of rules to be followed”.
She says powers of enforcement will be handed to government later this week and they will use them, including empowering the police to issue fines and break up gatherings.She says powers of enforcement will be handed to government later this week and they will use them, including empowering the police to issue fines and break up gatherings.
That provides greater clarity on Johnson’s address, in which he did not explicitly set out how the enforcement would work and from where it would derive its authority.That provides greater clarity on Johnson’s address, in which he did not explicitly set out how the enforcement would work and from where it would derive its authority.
Echoing Johnson, Sturgeon says the people of Scotland must stay at home. She repeats the limited set of reasons people can leave. You can see those here.Echoing Johnson, Sturgeon says the people of Scotland must stay at home. She repeats the limited set of reasons people can leave. You can see those here.
Scotland’s first minster, Nicola Sturgeon, is now delivering an address setting out what the measures mean for Scotland.Scotland’s first minster, Nicola Sturgeon, is now delivering an address setting out what the measures mean for Scotland.
She says the restrictions are “difficult and unprecedented”. She says she will not seek to sugarcoat it, but adds they are essential to protect people.She says the restrictions are “difficult and unprecedented”. She says she will not seek to sugarcoat it, but adds they are essential to protect people.
Here’s the full text of Boris Johnson’s address to the nation, which he has just finished delivering:
Johnson lauds those who have been working to keep the country running – including “everyone from the supermarket staff to the transport workers to the carers to the nurses and doctors on the frontline”. He adds:
Johnson adds that parks will “remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed”.
He says “no prime minister wants to enact measures like this”, adding that he understands the “damage that this disruption is doing”.
He promises to keep the restrictions “under constant review” and that the government will “look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to”.
Johnson has added now that the police will be able to take action where people are not complying with the new measures:
UK citizens are now being ordered to stay in their homes in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. He says people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following “very limited purposes”:
The prime minister adds:
Boris Johnson outlines the UK’s current approach. He says a “huge national effort” has been needed to halt the spread, adding: “there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope because there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses”.
He says that’s the reason for physical distancing measures.
The prime minister has delivered a televised address to the nation. He tells Britons the outbreak is the “biggest threat this country has faced for decades”.
A patient with Covid-19 has died in a hospital in the greater Belfast area, Stormont’s health department said. The patient was aged in their late 60s and had underlying health conditions. The health minister, Robin Swann, said:
The supreme court building is closing and all proceedings will be carried out remotely, it has been announced. Hearings will take place via video conferencing facilities and the court is closed to the public.
A court statement released today reads: