Boris Johnson tells nation: 'You must stay at home' - read his statement in full

Monday, 23rd March 2020, 8:48 pm
Updated Monday, 23rd March 2020, 10:35 pm

The Prime Minister has outlined new stricter restrictions on people leaving their homes to help halt the spread of coronavirus, in an address to the nation from No10 this evening.

Boris Johnson said that people must now stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from essential work.

His announcement came as the UK death toll reached 335.

Here is his statement in full:

"Good evening,

"The coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades - and this country is not alone.


"And so tonight I want to update you on the latest steps we are taking to fight the disease and what you can do to help.

"And I want to begin by reminding you why the UK has been taking the approach that we have.

"Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won't be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses.

"And as we have seen elsewhere, in other countries that also have fantastic health care systems, that is the moment of real danger.

"To put it simply, if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it - meaning more people are likely to die, not just from coronavirus but from other illnesses as well.

"So it's vital to slow the spread of the disease.

"Because that is the way we reduce the number of people needing hospital treatment at any one time, so we can protect the NHS's ability to cope - and save more lives.

"And that's why we have been asking people to stay at home during this pandemic.

"And though huge numbers are complying - and I thank you all - the time has now come for us all to do more.




- shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible


- any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and


"That's all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home.




"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.

"Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed.

"No Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this.

"I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people's lives, to their businesses and to their jobs.

"And that's why we have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business.

"And I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review. We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to.

"But at present there are just no easy options. The way ahead is hard, and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost.

"And yet it is also true that there is a clear way through.

"Day by day we are strengthening our amazing NHS with 7,500 former clinicians now coming back to the service.

"With the time you buy - by simply staying at home - we are increasing our stocks of equipment.

"We are accelerating our search for treatments.

"We are pioneering work on a vaccine.


"I want to thank everyone who is working flat out to beat the virus.

"Everyone from the supermarket staff to the transport workers to the carers to the nurses and doctors on the frontline.

"But in this fight we can be in no doubt that each and every one of us is directly enlisted.

"Each and every one of us is now obliged to join together, to halt the spread of this disease, to protect our NHS and to save many many thousands of lives.

"And I know that as they have in the past so many times, the people of this country will rise to that challenge.

"And we will come through it stronger than ever.



"Thank you."

Coronavirus: the facts

What is coronavirus?


What caused coronavirus?


How is it spread?


What are the symptoms?


What precautions can be taken?


What should I do if I feel unwell?


When to call NHS 111


Sources: World Health Organisation and NHS