Boris Johnson has announced strict new measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus in the UK.
The prime minister announced the new restrictions in a televised statement from Downing Street tonight (March 23).
Boris Johnson said UK residents will only be able to leave their homes for very limited purposes including shopping for groceries, one form of exercise per day, medical needs and travelling to and from work where it is absolutely necessary.
Gatherings of more than 2 people in public – who you do not live with – will be banned. Social gatherings, such as weddings and baptisms, have also been banned.
Police will be able to enforce these new measures “through fines and dispersing gatherings”.
The latest restrictions from the government will be enforced from tonight and will be checked again in three weeks.
The restrictions comes after the temporary closure of major retail shops and fast food chains, such as McDonald’s and KFC, in recent days.
335 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK so far, while the number of confirmed cases in Britain stands at 6,650.