UK government prepares for coronavirus to 'spread in a significant way'

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Boris Johnson's government remains focused on containing coronavirus but expects it to "spread in a significant way" in the coming days and weeks, his spokesperson said on Monday.

"We remain in the contain phase, but it is now accepted that this virus is going to spread in a significant way and that's why officials have been working at speed on further steps we can take to delay the spread of the virus," the prime minister's spokesperson told journalists at a regular Downing Street briefing attended by Business Insider.

Johnson was still chairing a COBRA meeting with senior ministers and health officials when his spokesperson briefed the UK press at Monday lunchtime.

The prime minister's spokesperson also said:

- Brits returning from quarantined areas of northern Italy are urged to self-isolate for two weeks — even if they do not have coronavirus symptoms.

Johnson's spokesperson said: "For those returning from Italy, Public Health England have advised that anyone returning from locked-down areas should self-isolate for 14 days regardless of whether they show symptoms.

"People returning from the rest of Italy should isolate if they are showing symptoms."

- There are still no plans to close the Houses of Parliament.

"The prime minister set out last week that he didn't believe there was any reason why parliament should close and as much as possible, based on medical advice, it should carry on as normal," they said.

"I would expect [the parliamentary authorities] to be guided by scientific advice."

There were reports last week that Westminster could be closed for five months amid fears that MPs and Lords could be "super-spreaders" of the COVID-19 virus.

He opened the door to extending supermarket home delivery slots to the middle of the night, to tackle panic-buying.