Transport For London have announced up to 40 London tube stations will close in a bid to slow down the spread of coronavirus.
From this morning (March 19), a reduced service on the Underground will run in London, allowing key workers to travel to and from work.
Up to 40 tube stations that do not interchange with other lines will be closed. The Waterloo & City Line will not run until further notice from Friday (March 20), while the Night Tube service will also not operate.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “People should not be travelling, by any means, unless they really, really have to. Londoners should be avoiding social interaction unless absolutely necessary, and that means they should be avoiding using the transport network unless absolutely necessary.
The changes to the London Underground come after the UK Government advised against “all but essential travel” on Monday (March 16).
With the NHS working tirelessly to respond to the virus, Chelsea FC have announced the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge, which is owned by the club, will be available for NHS members in north west London.
Chairman Bruce Buck and owner Roman Abramovich came up with the initiative and will pay for the costs involved.
The club said on its website:”It was decided the best way Chelsea can assist the NHS is to provide accommodation for NHS staff”.
“Many of the medical staff will be working long shifts and may not be able to travel home or would otherwise have to make long commutes.”
The NHS have said they are “enormously grateful” for the gesture made by Chelsea, and have welcomed similar support.
104 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus, while the number of those diagnosed with the infection currently stands at 2,626.