Prime minister says stronger measures being considered to combat the disease
The prime minister has warned people across the UK to observe social distancing advice when leaving their homes or run the risk of being subjected to stricter measures to limit their exposure to the coronavirus.
As the number of confirmed covid-19 cases in the UK exceeded 5,000 and the death toll approached the 300-mark, Boris Johnson urged members of the public to stay indoors, and if they had to leave their homes to exercise – or to “enjoy themselves” – in the nation’s parks and other open spaces, then they had to do so responsibly.
“The best thing that everybody can do, if you’re going outside, is observe social distancing,” he said. “Stay two metres apart, it’s not such a difficult thing. Do it. Stay at home.
”That is the best way to help the NHS, and the best way to save potentially many, many thousands of lives.”
Johnson was repeatedly asked at last night’s Number 10 press briefing if he was prepared to follow Italy, where more than 4,000 people have died, and introduce a lockdown.
While ministers are said to be very concerned at the numbers of people congregating in parks and seaside resorts over the weekend, the prime minister said he was reluctant to impose a lockdown but warned that the government would be looking at the situation “over the next 24 hours”.
Johnson’s comments came days after many housebuilders and housing associations said it was “business as usual” for their operations.
But a government-imposed curfew would bring to a halt all work on housebuilding sites across the country, potentially costing them – and the economy – tens of millions of pounds.
Another area likely to be hit is repair and maintenance work, especially in the social housing sector.
Around £1bn is spent annually on maintaining and repairing the UK’s three million social homes, and a lockdown would see this work stop immediately.
Chancellor Rushi Sunak is expected to spell out plans today to help the five million or so self-employed people in the UK, after he said last week the government would step in and guarantee the wages of those company employees who were at risk of losing their jobs because of the virus.
There have been growing calls since Sunak’s statement on Friday to help millions of self-employed workers, freelancers and those working in the gig economy.
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