Coronavirus: Britons urged to stay at home as ‘fast growth’ of infection looms

Boris Johnson asked people to work from home if they could and avoid restaurants

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  Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference on the ongoing situation with coronavirus in London, Britain March 16, 2020. Reuters

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  Boris Johnson gestures as Chris Whitty, UK chief medical officer, left, and Patrick Vallance, UK lead science adviser, right, stand during a coronavirus news conference inside number 10 Downing Street on Monday, March 16, 2020. Bloomberg

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  A woman crosses the millennium bridge wearing a face mask on March 16, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

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  A couple sit at a restaurant on a usually busy street in Clapham, London, March 16, 2020. Reuters

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  A couple wearing face masks walk down Clapham High Street in London, Britain March 16, 2020. Reuters

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  Commuters sit on a bus in the evening, as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world, in London, Britain March 16, 2020. Reuters

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  People wait outside an Iceland store in the Kennedy Centre which opened one hour early to allow elderly shoppers to buy food, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Britain, March 17, 2020. Reuters

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  People with their shopping as they leave an Iceland store in the Kennedy Centre, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Britain, March 17, 2020. Reuters

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  Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, arrives at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall ahead of a meeting of the UK Government's emergency committee Cobra to discuss the coronavirus response on March 16, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

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  Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty arrives at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall ahead of a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra to discuss the coronavirus response on March 16, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

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  A passenger wears a protective mask at King's Cross train station on March 16, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

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  A woman crosses the millennium bridge in front of St Paul's Cathedral wearing a face mask for protection against the coronavirus on March 16, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

UK residents have been urged to stop all non-essential contact as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned them the country is heading for the “fast growth” part of the virus outbreak.

He asked people to work from home if they can, to not go to restaurants or the theatre, and to avoid unnecessary journeys.

The government will also stop “supporting” large gatherings usually attended by emergency workers such as the police or paramedics.

Mr Johnson warned Londoners to be particularly careful because the UK capital is “a few weeks ahead” of other places in the country.

Schools will not be closed chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the move remained under consideration.

“Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel,” Mr Johnson said.

“We need people to start working from home where they possibly can.

“It looks as though we are now approaching the fast growth part of the upward curve and without drastic action cases could double every five or six days,” Mr Johnson said.

The Prime Minister said it was very strong advice but admitted it was not legally binding on people or institutions.

“By this coming weekend it will be necessary to go further and to ensure that those with the most serious health conditions are largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks,” Mr Johnson said.

He has been criticised by some for his comparatively lenient measures introduced in comparison to other countries in Europe who have ordered an effective lockdown in movement.

Shoppers are faced with partially empty shelves at a supermarket in London. AFP

“We’re also recommending increased social distancing. That’s the phrase that you hear. Which means trying to reduce contact between people again to try to delay this transmission,” Sir Patrick said.

“That means where businesses can do it and where individuals can do it, home working is recommended. Unnecessary travel should be reduced and stopped.”

The government had appealed to some of its biggest industrial firms, such as Rolls-Royce, for help in manufacturing health equipment including ventilators as the coronavirus tightened its grip on the country.

Contingency plans to commandeer resources for the outbreak are gradually being put in place. Hotels will be used as makeshift hospitals, retired doctors are being asked to come back to work and some elective surgery is being cancelled.