PM Clicks The Lock..

Britain shuts up shop in bid to save lives and protect NHS

- Ben Glaze, Martin Bagot and Nicola Bartlett

Britain was last night hit with the toughest emergency measures since the war after Boris Johnson locked down the country.

The PM finally caved in to pressure from medical experts and exhausted NHS staff after his advice on social-distancing was ignored by hordes of people across the country.

Under the emergency act, imposed immediately, Brits will only be allowed out once a day to exercise and go shopping.

Other measures include:

• All “non-essential” shops to be closed, with only food and hardware stores, chemists, petrol stations and newsagents allowed to remain open.
• People can leave home for medical needs such as cancer treatment or providing care or help to the vulnerable.

• Brits will be allowed out to buy vital necessities such as food or collect medication, but the Government wants them to go “as infrequently as possible”.
• Gatherings of three or more people in public will be banned, unless they are members of the same household.
• Social events, weddings and baptisms will also be banned – but funerals can still go ahead.
• Staff who are unable to work from home can travel.
• The rules will be immediately enforceable with fines of £30, though they could be hiked up if people fail to obey.

Mr Johnson unveiled the stringent measures as the death toll in Britain from Covid-19 climbed to 335, a rise of 54 on the previous day. They will last three weeks before being reviewed. The PM said in an address to the nation: “No Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this.

“I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people’s lives, to their businesses and to their jobs.