Mass gatherings to be banned next week in response to coronavirus

The British government are planning to introduce emergency laws from next week to ban gatherings of more than 500 people.

A Whitehall source said the government has drafted the emergency legislation.

The Times newspaper reported the new law will give police and immigration officers power to detain anyone that is suspected of having the virus, the law could remain in place for two years.

The legislation also will prevent schools from closing, unless otherwise directed to do so.

The Whitehall source said, “Ministers are working with the chief scientific adviser and chief medical officer on our plan to stop various types of public event, including mass gatherings, beginning next week.

“We are also talking to businesses and other bodies about the timing of moving towards much more widespread working from home.”

The source added, “We have drafted emergency legislation to give the government the powers it needs to deal with coronavirus, including powers to stop mass gatherings and compensate organisations. We will publish this legislation next week.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said Europe is now the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Over 5,000 people have died across the world and almost 140,000 are infected with the virus across 127 countries.

WHO director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a conference on Friday, the death toll is a “tragic milestone.”

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a warning to Brits travelling to parts of Spain, they are advising against all but essential travel to certain regions.

The FCO has advised to avoid areas in Madrid, La Rioja and the municipalities of La Bastida, Vitoria and Miranda de Ebro.

Spain announced they have had an almost 50% increase of coronavirus cases in just 24 hours, Madrid and the surrounding region is now 2,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Spain are fearing an Italy like coronavirus outbreak as confirmed cases on Monday rocketed by 362 cases in one day.

The Spanish government has announced to launch an emergency plan to prevent the spread of coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Spain has cancelled events in closed spaces and are urging residents to stay at home if they believe they have picked up coronavirus.