Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally put Britain into lockdown as the battle against coronavirus enters a new phase.
The PM took to national television at 8.30pm to announce strict new measures to control the spread of Covid-19 and stop the NHS being overwhelmed.
He said people should only leave their homes for the most essential reasons - and said non-essential shops should close. And the warned the police would enforce the new rules.
He said: 鈥淭he coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades 鈥 and this country is not alone.
鈥淎ll over the world we are seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer.鈥
"Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won鈥檛 be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses.
Coronavirus latest
鈥淎nd as we have seen elsewhere, in other countries that also have fantastic health care systems, that is the moment of real danger.
鈥淭o put it simply, if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it 鈥 meaning more people are likely to die, not just from coronavirus but from other illnesses as well."
Mr Johnson said it was "vital" to slow the spread of the disease. And while he thanked those who had already been staying at home, he said much more was necessary.
He said: 鈥淔rom this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction 鈥 you must stay at home.
鈥淏ecause the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.
鈥淭hat 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 鈥 for example a run, walk, or cycle 鈥 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.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 all 鈥 these are the only reasons you should leave your home.
鈥淵ou should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No.
鈥淵ou should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.
鈥淵ou should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine 鈥 and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.鈥
More businesses will also be closed.
Mr Johnson said: 鈥淭o ensure compliance with the Government鈥檚 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 鈥 excluding people you live with; and we鈥檒l stop all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals.
鈥淧arks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed.鈥
He added: 鈥淣o Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this.
鈥淚 know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people鈥檚 lives, to their businesses and to their jobs.
鈥淎nd that鈥檚 why we have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business.
鈥淎nd I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review. We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to.
鈥淏ut at present there are just no easy options. The way ahead is hard, and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost.
鈥淎nd yet it is also true that there is a clear way through.鈥
Retail boss backs move to close shops
Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, said: 鈥淩etailers understand the need for government to act quickly and decisively to protect public health and combat coronavirus.
鈥淭he safety of customers and staff is paramount, which is why retailers have responded swiftly and positively to evolving government guidance on social distancing and other hygiene matters. Indeed, many retailers had gone further and already closed shops temporarily.
鈥淥thers have continued to provide essential products and services to their customers, both from physical stores and online. Any retailers that remain open will be following the very latest government public health guidance to ensure they do everything they can to ensure the safety of customers & staff.
鈥淭he public also has a vital role to play in maintaining lifesaving social distancing practices, both in and out of stores. We must all be considerate of the needs of those around us, and respectful of the retail staff who are working round the clock to put food and other essential items on our shelves and into our homes.鈥
Government needs to be clear which businesses can operate
British Chamber of Commerce director General Adam Marshall said
businesses must play their part to help limit the spread of Coronavirus.
鈥淎s the 海角视频 goes into lockdown, ministers must be crystal-clear about which businesses can continue to operate, and those which must now shut their doors," he said.
鈥淭he new restrictions make it all the more important that the massive package of financial support announced by ministers last week is delivered to firms and employees on the ground as quickly as possible.鈥
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn,聽CBI聽Director-General, said: 鈥淧rotecting the public will protect businesses in the long run.
鈥淭hese latest measures will of course present great challenges, disrupting daily lives and the normal run of business. But we all owe it to each other to act responsibly, both people and businesses.聽
鈥淭he economic support the Government is providing and the determination of firms to support their employees mean together that the right action can be taken to protect lives and livelihoods.鈥
