Following an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday, new measures have been put in place to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

As of 9am on Monday morning, a total of 1,543 people had tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.

At least 55 people have now died in the UK after contracting Covid-19 after Wales announced its first death on Monday.

On Monday (March 16) the Prime Minister chaired a Cobra meeting which was then followed by a press conference alongside chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance.

During this, Boris Johnson said people over 70 are being asked to avoid unnecessary social contact with other people and people should start working from home "where they possibly can".

Mr Johnson added that "you should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues" as well as "all unnecessary travel".

(Image: PA)

The advice if you are presenting any of the symptoms for coronavirus has also changed for entire households

Mr Johnson said "if you or anyone in your household" had one of the two symptoms – either a high temperature (37.8 degrees or higher) or a continuous cough – "you should stay at home for 14 days".

Prof Whitty added: "If one person in the household has symptoms the whole household stays at home. Now there has to be some common sense around this, if there is a very vulnerable person in the household, for example, people will need to take that into account.

"The reason for this is because they are helping to stop it be transmitted onto the rest of the community and these people – the trouble is if you are actually in a household with someone who has got coronavirus, there is a reasonably high chance you will be infected and will go on to get it."

The latest isolation advice has been pushed back up to 14 days after being reduced to seven days just last week.

Those displaying symptoms should not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You also do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.

Only contact 111 if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, your condition gets worse or your symptoms do not get better after seven days.