Coronavirus cases in the UK jumped by 171 overnight to 1,543 cases on Monday. The crisis has caused chaos for the NHS and for British businesses, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson now advising everyone against “all non-essential social contact”, but what does this actually mean?

Boris Johnson delivered what will be the first of daily press conferences led by the PM or senior cabinet ministers.

News of these daily updates came after the UK government stepped up their plan to deal with the escalating crisis.

Mr Johnson said everyone must stop “all non-essential social contact” to help contain the coronavirus.

The PM issued a warning, he said: “Without drastic action, cases could double every four or five days”.

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The PM said the country is approaching the “fast growth” phase of the curve, which means cases are expected to double every five days.

Families are being urged to stay at home for 14 days if any member of the household is ill Mr Johnson said.

He also advised additional caution for over-70s, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions.

What does non-essential contact mean?

Non-essential social contact means any social gatherings and meetings which cannot be avoided.

Specifically, Mr Johnson said where possible people should work from home and avoid pubs, clubs and theatres.

Additionally, the advice on people avoiding non-essential contact is particularly important for people who are over-70, for people who are pregnant and for people with underlying health conditions.

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