The UK death toll from the infection is now up to 233.  Doctors fear the NHS  will soon be overwhelmed by sick patients.  On Saturday night Mr Johnson said: “The best thing is to ring her, video call her, Skype her, but to avoid any unnecessary physical contact or proximity.”

“And why? 

“Because if your mother is elderly or vulnerable, then I am afraid all the statistics show that she is much more likely to die from coronavirus.”

 The PM warned: “We cannot disguise or sugar coat the threat.”

 The death toll in Italy is at nearly 5,000.

Mr Johnson called for a “heroic and collective national effort to slow the spread”.

He said without this, like Italy’s healthcare “our own NHS will be similarly overwhelmed”.

Britain now has over 5,000 cases after around 73,000 tests were made.

The Government yesterday signed a landmark deal with private health care providers.

This will allow for 8,000 more beds in England, 1,200 more ventilators, 10,000 nurses and 700 extra doctors.

Northwick Park Hospital in London briefly ran out of beds on Friday.

One source explained: “Northwick Park will invariably happen in each hospital, one by one.

“We are expecting this because of what’s happened in Italy and Spain.”

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Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, today announced plans for a Local Support System in partnership with local councils, businesses and voluntary groups to deliver vital groceries and medicines to those most vulnerable and at risk.

The Department for Health and Social Care reiterated their call for members of the public to wash hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser.

Mr Jenrick also previously announced the closure of restaurants, pubs, clubs, cafes and all entertainment venues on a temporary basis.

He wrote on Twitter: “I appreciate and understand that this is very difficult moment for business owners and workers across the country and we are here to support you – whatever it takes.

These measures would then be reviewed to examine their effectiveness.

Mr Jenrick added: “We will work with businesses to find new ways of trading – takeaway & delivery will continue due to emergency changes to the law & these options will be available to all businesses.”

The Department for Work and Pensions tweeted: “If you are diagnosed with or are staying at home on Government advice due to coronavirus, you will be able to apply for #UniversalCredit and can receive up to a month’s advance upfront without physically attending a jobcentre.”

The added a link to https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/

At the time of writing, #StayHomeSaveLives is the number one trend in the UK.

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