Six professors signed a joint letter to the Sunday Times calling for restrictions of movement between UK regions, with a particular focus on London. The number of UK coronavirus deaths surged to 233 on Saturday, with over 5,000 recorded cases.

On Saturday night Boris Johnson warned the NHS faces being “overwhelmed” unless people begin social distancing urgently.

He urged Britons not to visit their mothers on Mother’s Day, as this could spread the virus further.

The six professors who wrote a joint letter to the Sunday Times were Julian Peto, Nisreen Alwan, David McCoy, Helen Ward, Martin McKee and Elio Riboli.

They said: “The UK is losing a very small window of opportunity to minimise the disease burden from Corvid-19 and prevent a health system collapse.

“We recognise the severe constrains on capability for testing but, whilst that is being addressed, the government must implement social distancing, extensive case finding and contact tracing to reduce community spread.

“Hence we urge the government to enforce restrictions on movement between and within areas with high and low rates of infection, such as London, while ensuring that the most vulnerable in society are supported.”

Italy recorded nearly 800 coronavirus deaths on Saturday taking the country’s total to 4,825.

Under new rules announced on Saturday any non-essential outside activity in the region of Lombardy, even if alone, has been banned.

London is the epicentre of the UK’s outbreak with more cases than any other region.

Sadiq Khan, the city’s Mayor, has urged Londoners to remain in their homes as much as possible.

On Twitter he warned: “London: This is of crucial importance – do not leave your home unless you have a very good reason.

“Do not go to work or use public transport, unless you do a critical job.

DON’T MISS 

Thousands of ex-soldiers to assist troops tackling coronavirus crisis [CRISIS]
Royal Navy to moor hospital ship on the River Thames in coronavirus [CRISIS]
British sport facing financial armageddon due to coronavirus crisis [REVEAL]

“If you ignore this advice, people could die.”

On Saturday Mr Johnson warned Briton’s should stay away from their mothers on Mother’s Day, as coronavirus is far deadlier to older people.

He said: “The best thing is to ring her, video call her, Skype her, but to avoid unnecessary physical contact or proximity.

“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.

“We cannot disguise or sugar coat the threat.”

All pubs, restaurants and other entertainment venues across the UK have been ordered to shut.

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.”

Source: Read Full Article