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'Stay at home': UK's Johnson ramps up response to virus

Posted March 23, 2020 7:00 am

By DANICA KIRKA AND PAN PYLAS

In this screen grab taken from video, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation from 10 Downing Street, in London, Monday March 23, 2020. Johnson has ordered the closure of most retail stores and banned gatherings for three in a stepped-up response to slow the new coronavirus. The measures Johnson announced in an address to the nation on Monday night a mark a departure from the British government's until-now more relaxed approach to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. (UK Pool via AP) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - Britain has become the latest European country to go into effective lockdown to deal with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday sweeping curbs on everyday activity including the banning of any gatherings of more than two people.

As well as instructing the public to 'œstay at home'ť for all but a few exceptions, Johnson said he was ordering shops that don't sell essential goods, such as food and medicines, to close immediately.

In as somber an address to the nation as any prime minister has arguably delivered since World War II, Johnson said it was critical to prevent the virus from spreading between households and that police would be authorized to break up gatherings of more than two people in public in order to deal with the 'œbiggest threat this country has faced for decades.'ť

"I must give the British people a very simple instruction,'ť the prime minister said while seated behind a desk. 'œYou must stay at home.'ť

The measures announced mark a departure from the British government's until-now more relaxed approach to the worldwide pandemic, which has stood in contrast to the lockdowns put in place elsewhere in Europe, notably in Italy, France and Spain. Though Britain has already closed schools, bars and restaurants and urged people to stay home, the advice for people to keep their distance have either been ignored or not understood fully enough - concerns over the strategy were stoked over the past weekend when many of the country's open spaces were packed out in the sunny weather.

Under the measures which Johnson did not term as a lockdown, people will only be allowed to leave home for a few 'œvery limited purposes'ť to relieve the pressure on the National Health Service, Johnson said.

These include shopping for basic necessities 'œas infrequently as possible,'ť one form of exercise a day done alone or with household members, medical reasons or travelling to work that cannot be done from home or that is 'œabsolutely necessary.'ť

'œThat's all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home,'ť Johnson said. 'œTo ensure compliance with the government's instruction to stay at home, we will immediately close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises, including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship.'ť

Social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, will also be stopped. Funerals are exempt. Parks will also remain open for exercise, but any gatherings will be broken up.

Johnson said the police will have the power to enforce the new requirements, including through fines and dispersing gatherings, and that these emergency measures will be in place for at least three weeks, subject to constant review.

Johnson has come under mounting pressure to introduce tougher measures in response after many people were seen out in public over the weekend not properly observing the government's social distancing recommendations of staying at least two meters apart.

Officials at Snowdonia National Park in Wales, for example, introduced its own restrictions and urged the government to be more explicit with its social distancing advice after its 'œbusiest visitor weekend in living memory.'ť And responding to the visibly high use of parks and the London Underground during the outbreak, London Mayor Sadiq Khan implored people to stay at home unless they 'œabsolutely need to'ť move about the city.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock had earlier expressed frustration at the failure of many to abide by the government's restrictions, describing those who gathered in groups up and down the land as 'œvery selfish.'ť

The U.K. had the 10th-highest number of virus cases in the world, 5,903, and the sixth-highest number of virus-related deaths as of Monday, according to tallies from Johns Hopkins University. British government figures showed that 54 more people with the virus had died since Sunday, bringing the country's total to 335.

New infections are seemingly increasing at an exponential rate, raising concern that the country will be on a trajectory like Italy's in a week or two if containment efforts are not successful.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever or coughing. But for some older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Over 100,000 people have recovered, mostly in China.

'œThe way ahead is hard, and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost,'ť Johnson said. 'œAnd yet it is also true that there is a clear way through .'¦ And therefore, I urge you at this moment of national emergency to stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives.'ť

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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Two tourist have their photo taken next to a traditional red telephone box in Westminster, London, Monday, March 23, 2020. The British government is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help prohibit the spread of Coronavirus, further restrictions may be imposed if the public do not adhere to their advice. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) The Associated Press

Pedestrians walk on Primrose Hill with the skyline of central London as a backdrop in London, Monday, March 23, 2020. The British government is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help prohibit the spread of Coronavirus, further restrictions may be imposed if the public do not adhere to their advice. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Pedestrians walk on Primrose Hill with the Post Office Tower as a backdrop in London, Monday, March 23, 2020. The British government is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help prohibit the spread of Coronavirus, further restrictions may be imposed if the public do not adhere to their advice. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

A queue of people wait outside Sainsbury's supermarket in front of a Coronavirus information display as National Health Service staff and social care workers who show their NHS ID are allowed into a branch of Sainsbury's supermarket 30 minutes before other customers who are made to wait outside the store, at the start of stores trading day in Kingston Upon Thames, south west London, Monday, March 23, 2020. This is to help NHS staff many of whom work shift patterns to buy food and other essentials, as they treat a rising number of Covid-19 patients, the supermarket chain will run this ongoing service Monday to Saturday, throughout Britain. Other supermarket chains are doing similar services for NHS staff. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. These people are not members of the NHS staff and wait in line for the store to let them enter at the correct time.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham) The Associated Press

Two people wearing masks walk in Regents Park in London, Monday, March 23, 2020. The British government is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help prohibit the spread of Coronavirus, further restrictions may be imposed if the public do not adhere to their advice. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

A woman on a mobility scooters passes pedestrians using a path across Clapham Common in south London, Monday March 23, 2020. The British government is warning that it may introduce more draconian measures to slow the coronavirus if people persist in ignoring social distancing recommendations. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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