Prime Minister Boris Johnson this afternoon outlined further measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in his daily update after the Cobra meeting.
The full statement can be read here or we have outlined the four key points below.
1. If you live with someone who has symptoms YOU should stay at home for 14 days
“If you or anyone in your household” had one of two symptoms – a high temperature or continuous cough you should stay at home for 14 days” requested Mr Johnson.
“That means that if possible you should not go out, even to buy food or essentials, other than for exercise and in that case at a safe distance from others.”
2. Non-essential contact should be stopped by working from home and avoid pubs, clubs and theatres
“You should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues,” he said. People should also start working from home “where they possibly can” he continued.
“This advice about avoiding all social contact is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions.”
Mass gatherings will no longer be supported with emergency workers and are something the government is “moving emphatically away from.”
3. Stop all non-essential travel
“Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel,” Mr Johnson said.
The Foreign Office has already issued advice to avoid a number of countries that have imposed travel bans.
You can find the latest here
4. The most vulnerable groups will be asked to self-isolate for 12 weeks
By the weekend, vulnerable groups, people over 70, pregnant women and those with some health conditions, will be asked to stay at home for 12 weeks.
He said: “In a few days time, by this coming weekend it will be necessary to go further and to ensure that those with the most serious health conditions are largely shielded from social contact for around 12-weeks.
“Again, the reason for doing this in the next few days rather than earlier or later is that this is going to be very disruptive for people who have such conditions.”
