Boris Johnson: “We need people to start working from home where they possibly can”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ramped up the government’s advice to UK residents, advising all to work from home where possible, and minimise social contact to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

In the first of the government’s daily press conferences on the Covid-19 outbreak, Boris Johnson advised “drastic action” was needed to prevent cases doubling every five to six days.

Stopping short of a forced lockdown, the Prime Minister advised that all members of a household should self-isolate for 14 days in anyone falls ill with either a fever or new continuous cough – the two most common symptoms of Covid-19 – and to only use NHS 111 or emergency services where further medical treatment may be needed.

UK workers have been advised to work from home wherever possible, and avoid social contact such as visiting pubs, theatres and other social venues, with the most vulnerable – over 70s, those with pre-existing medical conditions and pregnant women – being advised that disruption may continue for around 12 weeks. Mass gatherings, where emergency services would normally be expected to be present, are now being advised against to ensure critical workers can be deployed to deal with the outbreak.

While schools will remain open, Boris Johnson suggested that further, more stringent measures were likely to be introduced later in the week.

The government has faced criticism for a having a perceived soft-touch compared with other European nations, and so the change in advice has been welcomed by health professionals. However, as the announcement stopped short of forced closures of social spaces, the hospitality sector has been critical of the move, as pubs, restaurants and other businesses will be unable to seek financial support while customer numbers sharply decline.

Although the economic impact being felt due to the coronavirus was mentioned by the Prime Minister, no economic stimuli were announced beyond the £12 billion promised in the Budget. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to appear at subsequent daily press conferences.