British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has announced a three weeks lockdown in the United Kingdom, as he urged citizens to stay home in order to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
Boris Johnson who announced the three weeks lockdown in a national boradcast on 23rd Monday March 2020, said people will now only be allowed to leave their homes for very limited purposes and that police will have the power to help to enforce the latest restrictions.
Announcing the three weeks lockdown, he said: “People must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, for exercise but only once a day, any medical need and travel to work but only if essential.
Shops selling non-essential goods will also be closed and gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together are being prohibited.
Other premises including libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, and places of worship must also shut.
Funerals can still go ahead but weddings have been banned, as have baptisms and other ceremonies.
Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed, with police being handed the power to step in and enforce the new measures,” he said.
Johnson said police forces will have the powers to enforce the new measures, including by issuing fines and dispersing gatherings.
He said people had been asked to stay at home during this pandemic: “And though huge numbers are complying – and I thank you all – the time has now come for us all to do more
“From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.
That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: 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; and travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.”
Mr Johnson added: “To ensure compliance with the Government’s instruction to stay at home, we will immediately: close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship; we will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with; and we’ll stop social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals.
“Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed.”
Mr Johnson said the measures will be in place for at least three weeks and that they will be reviewed after this time.
The announcement comes after a meeting of Cobra, the emergency committee, on Monday evening.
Meanwhile the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK surged by 967 to 6,650 on Monday.
The national death toll also jumped to 336, with 55 new cases confirmed as of 1pm.
The Department of Health said a total of 83,945 people have now been tested in the country, 77,295 negative and 6,650 positive