London | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered a chilling warning over the spread of coronavirus, saying infection rates are likely running 10 times higher than confirmed cases and asking people to be prepared for the death of loved ones.

His sombre comments came as many European countries – though not Britain itself – reached for ever more drastic measures to stem the tide of COVID-19. Ireland and Norway moved into the lockdown phase and the European Central Bank delivered an unexpectedly large fusillade of stimulus.