Coronavirus: People forced to stay at home as lockdown begins
People across the calendar region and the UK have been forced to stay at home or face fines under strict new anti-virus measures brought in by the government.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation last night (Monday March 23, 2020) declaring a 'national emergency' as he laid down guidelines to try to stop the spread of covid-19 across the country.
These were the scenes in Leeds this morning, as most of the high street has been forced to close and businesses told to work from home.
PCSO Michelle Owens thanked people in Morley for staying away from the town centre while she was on patrol. She said she was 'really happy to see there was no one out in public," adding 'if you have no reason to be out please stay at home. We want everyone to stay safe and well."
The Prime Minster said the lockdown, which will last for three weeks, will be enforced by the police who have been given the powers to disperse gatherings after a ban on meetings of more than two people apart from those who live together was announced.
But this morning some police forces issued appeals asking people not to call 999 unless it was an emergency after an unprecedented number of calls to their control rooms wanting clarity over the measures.
It comes as a total of 422 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died in the UK as of 1pm on Tuesday, the NHS has said.