Coronavirus UK: Pubs and restaurants could close in European-style lockdown, warns Hancock
PUBS and restaurants could close across the UK as part of new Government measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned.
Coronavirus: 14 more COVID-19 deaths reported in UK
Matt Hancock appeared on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show this morning to discuss the Government’s approach to tackling the coronavirus pandemic. During the interview, he said Boris Johnson was committed to being “transparent” and revealed the UK could follow the same approach adopted by Italy, France and Spain in closing restaurants, pubs and non-essential shops across the country. It comes after Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced all pubs and bars in the Republic of Ireland were to shut from midnight tonight.
When asked if the UK could adopt a European-style lockdown, Mr Hancock said: "We haven’t ruled that out.
"We will do what is necessary because the top priority is to protect life and you do that by protecting the vulnerable and protecting the NHS."
The Health Secretary said Britain has not been tested like this “since the Blitz” and confirmed the UK is set to impose a series of so-called “wartime” measures in a bid to combat the outbreak.
One measure, leaked by ITV last night, includes plans to isolate people over 70 at home or in care homes for up to four months.
Other emergency measures planned by the Government include the forced requisitioning of hotels, private hospitals and other buildings as temporary hospitals.
He said: "The measures that we're taking, the measures that we're looking at taking, are very, very significant and they will disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in the country in order to tackle this virus.”
Boris Johnson has faced mounting pressure to do more to tackle the epidemic after the UK death toll rose to 35 on Sunday.
The number of UK cases also saw a marked increase, up from 1,140 to 1,372.
READ MORE: UK coronavirus LIVE: Infected cases soar to 1,372 in the UK as 35 dead
Countries such as France, Spain and Italy have so far imposed nation-wide lockdowns, after the the World Health Organization (WHO) said Europe was now the "epicentre" of the pandemic.
On Saturday, French prime minister Edouard Philipp announced all restaurants cafes, entertainment venues and nonessential shops had to close.
Pharmacies, food stores and petrol stations were allowed to remain open.
The Spanish government announced similar measures, as it declared a state of emergency on Saturday night.
DON'T MISS:
NHS coronavirus panic: We haven’t tools to make people safe, say GPs [COMMENT]
Coronavirus financial panic: Australia to hand out £377 to EVERYONE [INSIGHT]
Coronavirus: Claims ‘collective fear’ of COVID-19 fuels the pandemic [DEVELOPED]
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the country will go into a 15-day nationwide lockdown from Monday.
He announced people are banned from leaving home except for buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work.
The two countries follow in the footsteps of Italy, which has used similar measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Italian officials began a nationwide lockdown on Monday.
The number of cases in Italy continue to soar, as officials announce the number of cases rose to 24,747 on Sunday.
The total number of deaths from the outbreak has risen to 1,809, from 1,441.