Boris Johnson warns Britons to stop ‘all unnecessary contact with others’

The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson told reporters at a press conference in Downing Street on Monday that “now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact and to stop all non-essential travel”

As part of a range of stringent new measures, Johnson has now urged people to work from home and avoid pubs, clubs and theatres.

However, the UK is set to follow Italy, Spain, France and Ireland by closing restaurants, pubs and cafes, as the government has not ruled out a total shut down to combat coronavirus.

Johnson said elderly and vulnerable people would have to begin self-isolating for “around 12 weeks” from the weekend.

Now is the time to stop non-essential contact with others, he said, and it’s particularly important for over 70s, pregnant women, and those with medical conditions, including those with high blood pressure.

The prime minister said, “When it comes to curfews we are keeping all measures under review.”

Anyone who lives with someone who has a cough or a temperature should stay at home for 14 days.

The government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said, “We are entering a fast growth period – London ahead of other parts of country.”

England’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said, “The coronavirus will accelerate up the curve quite rapidly.

“This will go on for some time. It won’t be a couple of weeks. A prolonged period. The chances of dying are very low.”

World Health Organisation chief (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference from Geneva, “We have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing.”

He urges countries to “test, test, test.”

People across the UK are being refused the coronavirus test despite the World Health Organization (WHO) advising the UK health officials to do so.

London is the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK as hundreds of people have tested positive for the virus.

The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus across the UK now stands at 1,543, up by 171 in one day.

The current death toll stands at 37 in the UK, but this will be updated later today.

The transport secretary, Grant Shapps warned commuters on Monday that due to the rapid decline in people using trains, they could be shut down.