Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday that UK residents need to stay home to stop the spread of the deadly corona pandemic in his country — and that weddings, baptisms and other social events would be cancelled.

“All over the world we’re seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer. Tonight I want to update you on the latest steps we’re taking to fight the disease and what you can do to help,” Johnson said in a live televised address from 10 Downing Street, listing all previous steps his government and the national Health Service had taken to slow the spread.

“The time has now come for us all to do more. from this evening, I must give the British people a very simple instruction. you must stay at home,” he declared.

“Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope, because there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses, and as we’ve seen elsewhere, in other countries, who have fantastic health care systems, that is the moment of real danger,” he continued.

The PM said that he issued the drastic order to save lives before the country’s health system was overwhelmed with the sick and dying.

“To put it simply, if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it, meaning more people are likely to die, not just from coronavirus but from other illnesses as well,” he said.

“The critical thing we must do to stop the disease spreading between households, that is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible. One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle, alone or with members of your household,” he said.

Police will enforce the order if people don’t cooperate.