Boris Johnson announces three-week lockdown
You must stay at home
Boris Johnson has announced a lockdown of the UK for the next three weeks to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The order to stay at home is effective from this evening, with limited exceptions for when people can leave their home.
The Prime Minister will order police to enforce the lockdown, with a ban on gatherings of more than two people in public, excluding those from your household.
The Prime Minister said people would only be allowed to leave their home for:
Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
One form of exercise a day - for example, a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household
Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
Travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home
Speaking from Downing Street, Mr Johnson said: “You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home. You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can."
He went on to say: “If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.”