

OVER a million people should stay inside their homes for 12 weeks and everyone else must avoid going out, Boris Johnson told the nation yesterday.

In dramatic actions not seen since World War Two, the PM drastically ramped up Britain's battleplan - shutting down mass gatherings and urging everyone to stop non-essential travel and contact with others.

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5 Boris ordered drastic measures yesterday to tackle the outbreak Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

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He said that means all Brits (around 66million people) staying out of pubs, clubs, theatres and cinemas for weeks - and potentially months into the summer.

All who can can should work from home, he said.

The over 70s, those who are pregnant, and anyone with underlying health conditions (around 20million Brits) should try not to leave their homes if they can, and avoid crowded spaces immediately.

This will continue for the "long haul" - likely weeks or months.

And those with severe illnesses like cancer (around 1.4million Brits) must start cocooning themselves in their homes and get food delivered in from this weekend.

They will be shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks.

The 'social distancing' guidelines advise people not to visit vulnerable and elderly family and friends - and could mean Mother's Day is effectively cancelled.

It comes as 55 Brits have been killed by the illness, with more than 1,500 cases across the country.

The number of cases could DOUBLE every five or six days if Britain doesn't take "draconian" action now, the PM warned the country, in the most drastic action taken so far to tackle the disease.

The PM announced major crackdown rules including:

Levelling with a worried nation in a dramatic No10 press conference, Boris said: "Clearly what we’re announcing today is a very substantial change in the way we want people to live their lives, and I can’t remember anything like it in my lifetime.

"I don’t think there’s really been anything like it in peacetime.

"It’s a very considerable, psychological, behavioural change that we’re asking you, we’re asking the public, the nation to do.

"But I’ve absolutely no doubt that we can do it, that we can do it together."

It came as President Emmanuel Macron tonight announced a total shutdown of France with its borders closed and all social gatherings banned from tomorrow.

The lockdown will be enforceable by law - unlike in Britain.

And Donald Trump recommended a drastic shutdown of the US too - with the President even considering a nationwide curfew.

Boris said: "We are asking people to do something difficult and that will disrupt their lives."

But he stressed that the most vulnerable were the focus of the new measures.

The number of cases has spiralled faster than experts thought, prompting the Government to push ahead with measures quickly, he said.

In a stark change from last week, Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said Britain is now entering “the fast growth part of the upward curve”.

Five days ago during the trio’s last press conference, his modelling predicted the contagion’s peak was 10 to 14 weeks off.

Boris added: "I know we are today asking a lot from everybody, but I can tell you people and businesses are responding with amazing energy and creativity.

"I want to thank everybody for the part you are playing, and are going to play."

It came as actor Idris Elba tonight revealed he had caught Covid-19 and was in self-isolation too.

Brits who feel ill should stay at home for at least 14 days - which includes the whole family if you live with other people.

Sick people should not go out of the house - even to buy food or essentials. Going for a run or walk is allowed, but only at a safe distance.

If you live alone, self-isolate for just seven days.

However, the new rules are only advisory for now, and no one will be forced into action.

Boris even speculated that curfews could be on the cards in future, banning people from going out after a certain time.

He described them as "extreme measures" but added: "I appreciate this is something we need to keep under review".

The PM was speaking at the first of now daily press conferences that he or another senior Cabinet minister will give in a bid to reassure nervous Brits.

Today the Government will bring in emergency laws to give the government sweeping power to fight the epidemic.

They will include allowing police to detain infected people and forcing schools to stay open to help to limit the spread of the virus.

A report that the government expects eight million people to be hospitalised was only “the reasonable worst case scenario”, No10 insisted yesterday.

A leaked briefing from Public Health England suggested the grim figure was now the likely overall number.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in the Commons the measures would be extreme, and added: "We are in a war against an invisible killer and we have to do all we can to stop it."

The PM also didn't mention the role of the army - or whether troops could be on the streets soon to help deal with the outbreak.

Boris did not comment on the planned EU travel ban the bloc announced - and whether Britain would be taking part.

All European countries are set to lock down their external borders within days to stop the spread.

It's unclear how many people will have to stay at home as a result of yesterday's announcement.

And Boris was keen not to say that pubs and restaurants will have to shut - only that Brits should stay away from them.

Yesterday's actions comes after Italy, France, Spain, Germany and several other nations have revealed lockdowns of schools and public places, cancelled flights in and out of the country, and shut their borders.

There was no indication of just how long these extreme measures could be in place for, but Professor Chris Whitty insisted it would be a "prolonged period".

He said earlier: "We should not be under any illusions that... we should just do this for a couple of weeks."

Boris singled out Londoners too, telling them they were the worst hit part of the UK.

They were "ahead of the curve" and must act now to stop spreading it across the country.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said residents should avoid "all non-essential social contact" tonight.

All visits to pubs, clubs and other venues should stop with immediate effect.

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5 Health Secretary Matt Hancock arriving at No10 yesterday Credit: PA:Press Association

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Meanwhile, Mr Hancock is preparing to reveal emergency legislation to the Commons tomorrow to give extra powers to the Government to tackle the crisis.

It could include the powers to detain people suspected of having Covid-19, or slapping a fine on them instead.

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5 Credit: PA:Press Association