Get our daily coronavirus email newsletter with all the news you need to know direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

An estimated 1.4million people who are most 'at risk' from severe coronavirus will be sent a text message or letter advising them to stop all social contact.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said the very most vulnerable will be told to carry out social distancing measures in place for 12 weeks from Monday.

A fuller policy with details will be announced "in the coming days", a Downing Street spokesman said.

Mr Hancock said it was a "really big ask and really difficult" but are for "people's own protection" - adding people in those categories should “take themselves away from all social contact from Monday onwards”.

The 1.4 million people contacted will be those with particular underlying health conditions, who are most vulnerable to getting complications from Covid-19.

These people include:

People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy

People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment

People with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma (requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets)

People with severe diseases of body systems, such as severe kidney disease (dialysis)

Almost all those affected are expected to get a text message to their mobile phone before Monday.

Speaking about the measures to Sky News, Mr Hancock said: "The first thing we’re going to do is set out exactly what conditions that applies to.

“We expect about 1.4million people to then get a communication from the NHS to say they are part of this and what they need to do.

“Many of these people have pre-existing health conditions and so will be very worried right now and I understand that.

“They’ll need very specific sets of action - for instance, how do you go about still getting your chemo if you have cancer, whilst also social distancing.

“If you have cancer it’s particularly important to stay away from other people, but you also of course have got to keep going with your chemotherapy.

“So these are some of the most difficult and challenging cases. We’ll be getting in contact with them.

“If people think they are on this list and don’t receive a communication from the NHS, they also need to get in contact.”

Everyone in the UK has already been told to avoid all unnecessary social contact, travel and attending work where possible.

That general advice applies especially the over-70s, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions. A full list of those conditions is here.

But ministers had warned the most vulnerable - even more so than these groups - would soon be given more stringent rules telling them to “largely shield” themselves from social contact for 12 weeks.

It is those 1.4million most vulnerable people who are now due to be given new advice starting from Monday.

Advice will vary slightly by person, but government officials told the Mirror people must follow the advice they receive as closely as possible.

What is the latest government advice on coronavirus? The government has advised the British public to: Avoid pubs, clubs, restaurants and all social gatherings

Cease all unnecessary travel

Everyone should work from home where possible

Mass gatherings and sporting events have been cancelled

Avoid “all but essential travel” worldwide

If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fever, everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days

Pregnant women, those over 70, and people with certain health conditions have been asked to stay at home for 12 weeks

Schools, colleges and nurseries to close from Friday - GCSEs and A-levels cancelled

The government has advice here on how anyone with concerns who may be at risk should socially distance themselves - and how they can manage while in isolation.

Public Health England chief medical officer Chris Whitty described the new guidance for those more at risk as "absolutely critical".