In a bleak but frank assessment of the emergency facing the country, the Prime Minister confirmed that the outbreak cannot be stopped from becoming widespread, while health experts estimated up to 10,000 people in the UK may already be infected.
From today, anyone with a new continuous cough or high temperature must isolate themselves by staying at home for seven days, Mr Johnson said. Entire households where one person has symptoms could later be asked to go into quarantine as the outbreak spreads in coming weeks.
And in a chilling prediction of a fast-growing mortality rate, he admitted: “I must level with you, level with the British public – many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”
He also made a direct plea to all Britons to look out for each other.
He said: “We should all be thinking about our elderly relatives, the more vulnerable members of their family, our neighbors, and everything we can do to protect them over the next few months.
“We’re going to need to mobilise millions of people to help and support each other.
“We will get through this, this country will get through this epidemic, just as it has got through many tougher experiences before, if we look out for each other and commit wholeheartedly to a full national effort.”
In a 10-point plan to curb the spread of the disease, older people were advised not to take cruise holidays, while schools were told to cancel foreign trips.
But Mr Johnson stopped short of extreme measures including banning mass gatherings and closing schools after evidence suggested they would have little impact in the short term.
His team of experts also indicated that elderly and vulnerable people may have to isolate for up to 14 weeks during the peak of the outbreak.
And anyone living with a coronavirus patient must stay six feet away from them.
Mr Johnson, flanked by his Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, spoke at a Downing Street news conference yesterday afternoon, after a meeting of his Cobra emergency planning committee.
He confirmed that the Government scheme to contain the virus had concluded and Whitehall was switching its efforts to delay the peak of infections until the early summer to minimise the impact on the NHS.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21044/425643/5e6ba42d3fc88/1584112650685.jpg]
Official figures confirmed 596 cases of coronavirus had been recorded in the UK, with 10 people dead.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s clear that coronavirus continues and will continue to spread across the world and our country over the next few months.
“We’ve done what can be done to contain this disease and this has bought us valuable time...
From today, anyone with a new continuous cough or high temperature must isolate themselves by staying at home for seven days, Mr Johnson said. Entire households where one person has symptoms could later be asked to go into quarantine as the outbreak spreads in coming weeks.
And in a chilling prediction of a fast-growing mortality rate, he admitted: “I must level with you, level with the British public – many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”
He also made a direct plea to all Britons to look out for each other.
He said: “We should all be thinking about our elderly relatives, the more vulnerable members of their family, our neighbors, and everything we can do to protect them over the next few months.
“We’re going to need to mobilise millions of people to help and support each other.
“We will get through this, this country will get through this epidemic, just as it has got through many tougher experiences before, if we look out for each other and commit wholeheartedly to a full national effort.”
In a 10-point plan to curb the spread of the disease, older people were advised not to take cruise holidays, while schools were told to cancel foreign trips.
But Mr Johnson stopped short of extreme measures including banning mass gatherings and closing schools after evidence suggested they would have little impact in the short term.
His team of experts also indicated that elderly and vulnerable people may have to isolate for up to 14 weeks during the peak of the outbreak.
And anyone living with a coronavirus patient must stay six feet away from them.
Mr Johnson, flanked by his Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, spoke at a Downing Street news conference yesterday afternoon, after a meeting of his Cobra emergency planning committee.
He confirmed that the Government scheme to contain the virus had concluded and Whitehall was switching its efforts to delay the peak of infections until the early summer to minimise the impact on the NHS.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21044/425643/5e6ba42d3fc88/1584112650685.jpg]
Official figures confirmed 596 cases of coronavirus had been recorded in the UK, with 10 people dead.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s clear that coronavirus continues and will continue to spread across the world and our country over the next few months.
“We’ve done what can be done to contain this disease and this has bought us valuable time...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 13, 2020