NATION PUT INTO VIRUS ‘LOCKDOWN’
Johnson and Sturgeon confirm new wave of measures to be taken ... with police soon able to fine those outside their homes without cause
THE United Kingdom has been placed into lockdown to tackle the coronavirus, with the threat of police fines for anyone who ignores new measures.
In a statement unlike any seen from a prime minister during peacetime, Boris Johnson also issued a ban on public gatherings of more than two people while addressing the nation last night.
Johnson detailed a short list of reasons why individuals can leave their homes as he ordered the immediate closure of all shops selling non-essential items.
He ordered people to only leave the house to shop for basic necessities “as infrequently as possible” and to perform one form of exercise a day.
Or they could seek medical help, provide care to a vulnerable person or travel to work if “absolutely necessary”, he said in a televised address from within Downing Street.
“That’s all – these are the only reasons you should leave your home,” 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.
“If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.”
Other premises being shuttered are libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and places of worship.
And, while parks will remain open for exercise, all social events including weddings and baptisms will be stopped.
Funerals, however, can continue.
Johnson said the measures will be
“under constant review” and will be considered for relaxation in three weeks’ time if the evidence allows.
It comes after thousands of Brits flouted warnings over the weekend – with many heading to the likes of Loch Lomond despite social distancing advice.
The number of people in Scotland with the deadly virus leapt to 499 yesterday – a rise of 83 from Sunday.
In Greater Glasgow alone, the number of people with Covid-19 jumped by 22 from 130 to 152.
And in Lanarkshire, the number of confirmed cases has risen from 49 to 58.
During her daily briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also revealed four more people have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in Scotland – taking the death toll to 14.
There have now been 335 deaths in the UK.
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, the First Minister addressed the people of Scotland. She echoed warnings issued by Johnson, including that if police find people flouting rules in the coming days they will be given “strong advice” to go home – and after legislation is passed then enforcement would come in the form of fines.
She said new coronavirus restrictions “amount to a lockdown”.
“I am not going to sugar-coat it in any way,” she said. “Coronavirus is the biggest challenge of our lifetime.”
She said the new measures are “not done lightly”.
“Stay at home,” Sturgeon continued. “That is the message I gave yesterday and I am reinforcing that message now.”
The First Minister also requested that funerals be limited to close family members.
Chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood added: “This is now real life and lives will be lost unless we change the way we live.”