Prime minister Boris Johnson has urged everyone in the UK to work from home and avoid social contact where possible as part of new measures to fight the spread of coronavirus.
Johnson announced the new guidance during the first of a series of daily televised briefings, aimed at keeping the British public informed of the latest developments of the pandemic.
He explained that as the UK approached “the fast growth part of the upward curve” in the rate of coronavirus cases, “drastic action” was required to protect the elderly and most vulnerable.
Johnson declared that all “non essential” travel should be avoided and appealed to individuals not to go to pubs, clubs and theatres where possible.
The prime minister also indicated that the elderly and most vulnerable groups will be instructed to start self-isolating for up to 12 weeks by next weekend.
Anybody residing with another individual who is suffering from symptoms, such as a cough or fever, has been advised to self-isolate for 14 days.
The government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has said that further measures such as closing schools may follow in due course, but warned that such steps must be taken "at the right time".
Meanwhile, the government's chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, moved to reassure the British public by saying that the chance of death as a result of the virus was "very low" for "any individual person".
36 people have now died from coronavirus in the UK.
