End of freedom
♦all public gatherings of more than two people to be outlawed with threat of fines
♦all non-essential shops to be closed as restrictions imposed for three-week period ♦scientists told Prime Minister the NHS faced collapse unless public responded
THE PRIME Minister has ordered much of the British population to stay indoors, in a removal of basic freedoms not seen in peacetime, as he admitted there were “no easy options” left in the battle against coronavirus.
The Prime Minister banned all public gatherings of more than two people, closed down “non-essential” shops and imposed draconian restrictions on anyone leaving their own home, after being warned it was the only way to save tens of thousands of lives.
The measures, which go far beyond anything seen in wartime and will last for an initial three weeks, will be enforced by police with on-the-spot fines.
In a sombre televised address to the nation last night, Mr Johnson said: “No prime minister wants to enact measures like this. But 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.”
Mr Johnson made the shock announcement after advisers were dismayed by pictures of crowded Tube trains in London and people up and down the country ignoring government advice by flocking to public spaces.
The Prime Minister was told that unless tough measures were brought in immediately, the NHS would quickly collapse under the rapidly escalating numbers of people being hospitalised with the virus. The death toll now stands at 335 and the number of positive tests at 6,650.
Mr Johnson said: “From this evening, I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home.”
Mr Johnson said that from now on, no one should leave their home except to do one of four things: shop for food or essentials; exercise once per day; attend to a medical need or provide care for the vulnerable, and travel to and from work where absolutely necessary (including key workers taking their children to school on the way). Announcing restrictions that took even his own MPS by surprise, Mr Johnson banned all public gatherings of more than two people unless they are from the same household or for “essential work” – a measure that will be enforceable with police-issued fines expected to start at £30 but likely to escalate sharply if necessary.
Germany and France have already instituted similar measures, but there had been no inkling that Mr Johnson was about to go as far and as quickly.
He said: “You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say no. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home. You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine — and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.
“If you don’t follow the rules, the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.”
The only shops allowed to stay open from today will be food, pharmacy, hardware and pet supply stores; petrol stations; post offices and banks; newsagents; corner shops and retail outlets within hospitals.
It means clothes shops, electronics stores, hairdressers, indoor and outdoor markets will be closed. Libraries will also be shut.
Other measures announced last night include the closure of all places of worship except for funerals, meaning a ban on weddings and baptisms.
The Government stopped short of closing parks, but all places within them where people might congregate, such as playgrounds, kiosks and outdoor gyms, will be closed.
Local authorities are expected to enforce closures, but police will enforce the ban on public gatherings after being new powers under the 1984 Public Health Act by the end of this week.
Downing Street sources said Mr Johnson took the drastic action after being told by his scientific advisers that the NHS would collapse unless 75 per cent of the public complied with social distancing measures announced last week.
A source said: “Everyone saw the pictures over the weekend of people out and about in numbers, and our analysis of the data couldn’t guarantee that 75 per cent of people were complying.
“The rules are there for a reason – to reduce transmission, relieve pressure on the NHS and save lives. The only way to ensure 75 per cent compliance
and to keep the NHS workload within manageable levels was to do this.”
The new measures will be reviewed in three weeks, but are likely to stay in place for longer. The Telegraph understands that police forces have been told the crackdown could last anything up to six months, depending on how quickly positive effects are seen.
Likening the battle against the virus to a war, Mr Johnson said: “In this fight, we can be in no doubt that each and every one of us is directly enlisted. Each and every one of us is now obliged to join together to halt the spread of this disease, to protect our NHS and to save many, many thousands of lives.
“And I know that, as they have in the past so many times, the people of this country will rise to that challenge and we will come through it stronger than ever.”
Mr Johnson had studied data from Italy that showed the country has slowed the increase of cases after ordering people not to leave their homes.
But police representatives warned of “significant confusion” about whether it was the police’s job to enforce coronavirus restrictions. The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said that if pubs and cafes disobeyed orders to close, it should be dealt with by local authorities.
One police source said: “The difficulty is with [enforcement] and we await that detail with bated breath.”
Policing organisations are also against the idea of officers being called in to maintain order at supermarkets, as it would leave them unable to carry out other essential duties.
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, said the Government was working with private security firms to find solutions.
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI director-general, said: “Protecting the public will protect businesses in the long run. These latest measures will, of course, present great challenges, but we all owe it to each other to act responsibly, both people and businesses.”
Despite the announcement, Sports Direct has reportedly said stores will remain open because selling sporting and fitness equipment makes the company a vital asset during the crisis.
Meanwhile, Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, told all Britons travelling abroad to come home immediately and “while you still can”, warning that commercial flights might not be available beyond the end of this week.