Boris Johnson has put the UK on a three week lockdown and increased police powers amid the spread of the coronavirus.

People will only be allowed out to shop, exercise once a day, for any medical need, to help vulnerable, or to travel to and from work.

Meetings of more than two people are banned, and you should not have visitors to your home or meet family and friends.

The PM said measures would be revisited in three weeks and the outbreak was being kept under ‘constant review’.

He said: “That’s all – these are the only reasons you should leave your home. You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say ‘no’.

“You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.

“You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.”

The Prime Minister also said that gatherings of more than two people in public are now banned and police will have the power to enforce these new rules.

He said: “If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

“To ensure compliance with the government’s instruction to stay at home, we will immediately close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship.

“We will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with. And we’ll stop all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals.”