Boris Johnson warned yesterday that “many more families” would lose relatives to coronavirus, declaring that it would be the worst public health crisis in a generation.

In a solemn statement at Downing Street, the prime minister said that millions of people would need to be mobilised to help each other. “It is going to spread further and I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time,” he said.

Up to 10,000 people may already be infected, Mr Johnson said, as the government gave up on containing the spread of the virus.

Anyone with a persistent cough or even a mild fever should stay at home for a week. The elderly will soon be told to