Coronavirus: Boris Johnson orders Britons to stay home or face fine

Boris Johnson has told Britons they may go out only to shop for necessities, travel to work or exercise once a day.

Boris Johnson has ordered the UK into near total lockdown. Picture: Getty Images.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the most unprecedented restrictions on civil liberties since World War II, effectively locking down households throughout the United Kingdom.

Mr Johnson has banned people from leaving their homes unnecessarily or meeting in groups of more than two people in strict coronavirus measures. All weddings and baptisms are cancelled and the only religious ceremonies allowed are funerals.

Mr Johnson told the nation in a public address the public could not leave their houses except to shop infrequently for essentials, exercise outdoors once a day, to receive medical treatment or to travel to work if it is impossible to work from home. If they are outside they can only gather in groups of two or if with members of the same household.

People will be fined if they flout the restrictions, Mr Johnson warned.

’’Although huge numbers are complying, the time come for us all to do more,” said Mr Johnson. “If you don’t follow the rules police have powers through fines and dispersing gatherings’’.

He said the restrictions would be under review in three weeks time.

‘’The way ahead is hard, it is still true many lives will still be lost, but it is also true there is a clear way through,’’ he said.

Please join me for an important update on #coronavirus #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/QSlIOIaYsF

— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 23, 2020

Britons abroad were also ordered home by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

“All British travellers abroad who are usually based in the UK are advised to return now while commercial flight options are still available,’’ he said.

A current spell of sunny weather coupled with school closures, parks and beauty spots around the country have been heaving, as has the reduced service tube in London, raising alarm that social distancing measures weren’t being heeded.

While shops, clubs, restaurants and gyms were forced to close several days ago, further closure of non-essential businesses and social isolation measures are expected to be announced.

At least 46 people died in the past 24 hours bringing the death toll in the UK to 335.

In Italy, the centre of the European outbreak, there were 602 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to more than 6000. But for the third day straight, the numbers of people dying appear to be slightly decreasing, bringing hope that the strict isolation measures in place in Italy is beginning to have an effect.

Two women stand a distance apart as they talk in Stoney Middleton village, in Derbyshire. Picture: AFP.

Earlier today the UK government introduced a coronavirus Bill, containing some draconian measures, including £1000 fines for ignoring police instructions.

Health minister Matt Hancock said he hoped all of the measures will not need to be used.

But he warned”we will do whatever it takes to beat this virus” and insisted the bill, meant to be in place for two years, was “proportionate to the threat we face”.

All British tourists who are still in Australia have been told to get on a plane back home immediately.

In a new advisory, the foreign office said the “unprecedented change in travel advice reflects the pace at which international travel is becoming more difficult with the closure of borders, airlines suspending flights, airports closing, exit bans and further restrictions being introduced daily’’.

It warned: “Further closures to air routes may come in the next 48 hours, possibly without notice.’’

Travel back from Australia to the UK has become more difficult after several airlines, including Qantas, suspended operations for the coming weeks and months.

The Foreign Office says some British tourists abroad are already finding it difficult to return to the UK because of international travel restrictions and domestic policies around the world.

The UK Government says it is working with airlines to keep routes open and called for international action to keep air routes open for a sufficient period of time to enable international travellers to return on commercial flights.

Mr Raab said: “We are strongly urging UK travellers overseas to return home now where and while there are still commercial routes to do so. Around the world, more airlines are suspending flights and more airports are closing, some without any notice. Where commercial routes don’t exist, our staff are working round the clock to give advice and support to UK nationals. If you are on holiday abroad the time to come home is now while you still can.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said this was a very difficult time for British citizens travelling overseas or for those with families and loved ones abroad.

“We’re in close contact with airlines, who are working tirelessly to ensure British citizens travelling overseas can safely return to the UK. We are also working closely with other government departments, including the FCO to ensure airlines are able to operate to bring people back home.”