Almost half of the public would support closing cinemas and restricting flights into Britain to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, but less than one in three want the Government to shut all schools and universities, according to a poll.

A survey of 3,000 people found that 45 per cent backed curbing or stopping flights arriving in Britain in response to the outbreak, while 44 per cent said they would support the closure of public venues such as cinemas, nightclubs, theatres and museums, "now or in the very near future".

The poll comes as the Government prepares to cancel sporting events, concerts and other “mass gatherings” from next week, after Scotland outlawed crowds of more than 500 people.

Whitehall sources said the plans were intended to help alleviate the burden that large events put on police and the health service.

But the Premier League has already taken matters into its own hands by announcing the suspension of the football season until next month and the London Marathon was postponed until October by its organisers.

The poll also suggests that government advice is getting through to the population, with the vast majority of those surveyed able to identify the main symptoms of Covid-19.

Boris Johnson has also faced calls from some politicians and experts to take more draconian action immediately, including closing schools.

But officials insist that suddenly putting thousands of children in need of parental childcare could have a serious effect on staffing levels in public services such as the NHS.

According to the survey, by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, a new polling firm, only 32 per cent of people support closing all schools and universities now or in the very near future.

Meanwhile, 44 per cent agree that the Government's actions in response to the outbreak had been "adequate" while 41 per cent said they had "fallen far short".

Only 5 per cent believed ministers and officials had overreacted.

A sizeable majority - 74 per cent - of those polled said they would support further "social distancing" measures imposed by the Government, which could include the closure of public spaces and cancellation of large public events.

Only 15 per cent said they would not support such measures.