‘People Must Make Substantial Changes To The Way They Live'

Boris Johnson plunged Britain into an unprecedented national shutdown last night to protect the vulnerable from coronavirus.

- Macer Hall

On the day the death toll from the outbreak in the UK hit 55, the Prime Minister urged everyone to avoid any “non-essential” contact with others including staying away from pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas.

He also called for people to stop any “unnecessary” travel around the country and appealed for everyone who can to work from home.

The “draconian” measures were announced as The Grand National, British horse racing’s biggest race of the calendar, was cancelled.

After speculation the race on April 4 would be run behind closed doors, Aintree canceled the entire meeting last night. Just hours earlier Mr Johnson warned the number of infections in the UK will double every five or six days unless drastic action is taken.

Officials warned the measures will be in force for a “prolonged period” lasting several months.

Admitting the Government was demanding “a very substantial change in the way that we want people to live their lives”, the Prime Minister said: “I can’t remember anything like it in my lifetime.

“I don’t think there has been anything like it in peacetime.

“We have to accept that it’s a very considerable, psychological behavioral change that we are asking the public, the nation to do.

“But I’ve absolutely no doubt we can do it together.”

Other sweeping measures announced by the Government include calling for all households where anyone has symptoms to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

And from this weekend, those most at risk from dying from the virus, such as people aged over 70 or those with serious health conditions, will be told to “shield” themselves from social contact for around 12 weeks. Pregnant women will also be told to shield themselves because of uncertainty over the threat to unborn babies.