TROOPS could guard hospitals and supermarkets in drastic new measures set to be rolled out in a bid to tackle the coronavirus.

It comes as the death toll in the UK soared to 21 and plans were announced to isolate people over the age of 70 for four months.

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5 Military field hospitals could be built alongside care homes Credit: Getty Images - Getty

5 Shoppers left a 'staggering' trail of destruction in a north London Tesco Credit: Twitter

5 Boris Johnson's worst-case scenario plans have been revealed Credit: Getty - Pool

Shoppers have stripped supermarket shelves of essentials including toilet paper and dried pasta as officials say they've moved into the second phase of plans to contain the deadly bug.

As a result, it is understood the government will deploy the armed forces.

The plans feature in a list of strict rules set to be revealed by Boris Johnson as the pandemic rages.

As part of plans for a worst-case scenario situation, defence sources told The Mail on Sunday that Army units are stepping up their training for public order roles - including the guarding of hospitals and supermarkets.

The source said officers from the Royal Logistics Corps will food convoys, while the Royal Army Medical Corps could build tented field hospitals next to care homes.

Troops trained in chemical, biological and nuclear warfare will deep-clean empty public buildings in case they need to be turned in to hospitals or morgues.

Under the new scheme, local councils would work with military liaison officers and essential staff including RAF Typhoon pilots will be quarantied at work so they don't fall sick.

Members of the Army's police force, the Royal Military Police, will also work with constabularies across Britain.

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The virus is widespread in Europe, and while Italy remains in lockdown, France has tonight ordered restaurants and bars to shut.

Flights were also turned away from Spain just 40 miles before landing.

Britain's decision not to lock down has been criticised by a group of 229 scientists from UK universities. In an open letter, they say the approach will "risk many more lives than necessary".

5 Shoppers have stripped the aisles Credit: Alamy Live News

5 A shopper buys multipacks of toilet paper Credit: Splash News

Coronavirus - Death toll reaches 21 with 1140 infected in the UK as Jet2 cancel all flights to Spain

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