Boris Johnson orders Britons to 'stay at home' and closure of non-essential shops

[Nat]

Boris Johnson has stunned millions of Britons with a momentous and tough lockdown announcement to tackle coronavirus: stay at home or face a fine.

In a dramatic and historic TV address to the nation, the prime minister said all shops apart from food stores and chemists must close immediately, meeting friends will be banned - but one form of exercise a day will be allowed.


The lockdown, which will be in force for at least three weeks, follows growing pressure in recent days from the government's top medical advisers and senior politicians for a lockdown.

Announcing powers not seen since wartime, Mr Johnson declared: "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home.

"Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households."

People will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes:

• Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
• One form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household
• Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• Travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home

He added: "That's all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home.

"You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say no.

"You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.

"You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine - and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.

"If you don't follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings."

Mr Johnson added that these measures will come into force immediately:

• Closing all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship
• Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public - excluding people you live with
• Stopping all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals

Coronavirus: Police to hand out fines and most shops to shut as PM locks down UK

The prime minister insists the measures - the toughest seen since wartime - are vital to slow the spread of the disease.

news.sky.com

 

[Sneaky Pete]

I seen that as well, and I agree. It's the only way to stop this virus from spreading. I couldn't even find any pasta in Sainsbury's.

This has came at a bad time in my life, as I'm trying to get everything sorted out. The timing for this...it's just absolutely crazy!

 

[Aries]

I seen that as well, and I agree. It's the only way to stop this virus from spreading. I couldn't even find any pasta in Sainsbury's.

This has came at a bad time in my life, as I'm trying to get everything sorted out. The timing for this...it's just absolutely crazy!

Eggs, there's no eggs in Asda here. It really is mental. I hope things get better for you!

 

[Sneaky Pete]

As long as I get my Emmi coffee, I'm good.

My mother keeps telling me to go to Aldi, or Lidl.

However, the food in Lidl always tastes terrible. I mean, their fruit is bogus and half the time, their chiller cabinets are normally empty.

 

[Aries]

As long as I get my Emmi coffee, I'm good.

My mother keeps telling me to go to Aldi, or Lidl.

However, the food in Lidl always tastes terrible. I mean, their fruit is bogus and half the time, their chiller cabinets are normally empty.

Lidl can be quite good sometimes depending on what you're getting.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Yeah. I go for the "Deluxe" variety. It's essentially to Lidl what "Taste the Difference" is to Sainsbury's. Or, "Extra Special" in Asda.

 

[Aries]

Yeah. I go for the "Deluxe" variety. It's essentially to Lidl what "Taste the Difference" is to Sainsbury's. Or, "Extra Special" in Asda.

Gotta love their prices though!

 

[Sneaky Pete]

At least their chocolate tastes like the proper stuff, before Cadbury went OTT with the palm fat. :/

 

[Aries]

At least their chocolate tastes like the proper stuff, before Cadbury went OTT with the palm fat. :/

These are heavenly

 

[Abizaga]

This makes sense. Lets hope there's not Gamestops or Hobby Lobbies.

 

[ziggy1979]

I like Lidl's produce generally...only other one is Ocado/waitrose … strawberries are particularly good from them. We felt that with Sainsburys especially their fruit went off really quickly in comparison. Rest of the stuff we do the big supermarkets.

I think its the right call...wish he'd done it a little sooner … maybe a week … I can' believe people treating it like a holiday just hanging out at the beach etc … do they not see what's happening in Italy, Spain, etc... I wish it wasn't headed our way but unfortunately is almost certainly is.

 

[Abizaga]

Especially with Florida refusing to close the beaches.

 

[ziggy1979]

yup.... sayw that on the news too … I really don't understand how people process scences from Itlay etc … the virus itself is pretty much the world over now … its just at different stages of spreading in different countries ...