London | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has bowed to the inevitable and sent his country into COVID-19 lockdown, restricting outdoor movement to essential shopping, medical needs, solitary exercise and unavoidable travel to work.

Police will have the powers to break up gatherings of more than two people (excepting families), and penalise transgressors. All shops and institutions apart from essentials such as food and chemists will close. The measures will last at least three weeks.