Boris Johnson has announced a countrywide lockdown in a TV address.

The prime minister ordered people to stay in their homes, stopped social events and banned gatherings of more than two people in public. Click here for every word he said.

From midnight tonight all non-essential shops, including those selling clothes and electronics, will close.

The drastic measures, the greatest restrictions on personal freedoms in modern history, come as the UK death toll hit 335 and the number of confirmed cases rocketed to 5,837 today. They will last at least three weeks.

Mr Johnson said: "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."

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People are only be allowed to leave their homes for limited purposes such as shopping for basic necessities, exercising once daily, medical need and travelling to and from work only where necessary.

Mr Johnson urged everyone to comply with the rules in order to beat the coronavirus outbreak that is sweeping the world.

He said: "Each and every one of us is now obliged to join together. To halt the spread of this disease. To protect our NHS and to save many many thousands of lives.

"And I know that as they have in the past so many times.The people of this country will rise to that challenge."

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