The government has ordered people to stay home and gatherings of more than two people in public not from the same household will be banned.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the demands that come into force immediately in an address to the nation tonight, Monday, March 23.
People will only be allowed to leave home for shopping for essential items, one form of exercise a day, any medical need for you or a vulnerable person and for travelling to and from work when absolutely necessary.
“Non-necessary” shops will be closed.
Occasions such as weddings or baptisms will be banned, though funerals will be allowed.
Parks will remain open for exercise, but groups will be dispersed.
The Prime Minister said the measures would be reviewed constantly, but also said that would be in three weeks time.
He said: “Without a huge national effort there will come a time that no health service inhe world will be able to cope as there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, doctors not nurses and we have seen that is the moment of real danger.
“I’m leading a very simple instruction. You must stay at home.
“If you don’t follow the rules police will have the powers to enforce them through fines.”
