Boris Johnson announced on Monday his government’s decision to impose a coronavirus quarantine on all British citizens. Criticism from the scientific community of the response given so far, and the reality of the extraordinary progress of the infection, has forced the prime minister to relent. Residents will only be able to leave their homes to buy basic supplies, meet medical needs, go to work…

Boris Johnson announced on Monday his government’s decision to impose a coronavirus quarantine on all British citizens. Criticism from the scientific community of the response given so far, and the reality of the extraordinary progress of the infection, has forced the prime minister to relent. Citizens will only be able to leave their homes to purchase basic supplies, meet medical needs, go to work (if it is not possible to do so from home) and do some basic forms of exercise once a day. The latter is the only exception granted to citizens, compared to measures imposed in other European countries such as Spain.

The concentration of more than two people in public spaces (except people who live in the same nuclear family) is prohibited. The police will have the necessary powers to impose fines and disperse concentrations of citizens. Libraries, playgrounds or outdoor gyms should close immediately, as should all shops that do not carry basic products.

“No prime minister wants to make a decision like this,” Johnson admitted in a brief, televised address to the nation, in which he explained to Britain that this was the only way to prevent the NHS, in its British acronym) from being overwhelmed and not able to treat all patients. Simply put, if lots of people get sick at the same time, the NHS won’t be able to handle the situation, and more patients will die, not only from the coronavirus but from other illnesses as well, he explained. Until the last minute, Johnson had tried to implement gradually tougher measures to seek the involvement of British citizens. But that involvement exists only in a very limited way.

London’s parks, its streets, that same weekend witnessed an excessive movement of people in the face of the seriousness of the crisis. The political opposition, but especially the scientific community, began to break down unity and consensus and demand more drastic measures. Just as the Conservative Party is starting to show gaps in supporting the prime minister.

“I can assure you that we will continue to review these measures. We will reconsider it in three weeks, and we will ease it if scientific evidence shows we can do it,” Johnson said. “But right now the options we have are not easy. The road ahead is difficult and many lives will be lost,” he admitted.

Boris Johnson has been forced, in the short space of a few weeks, to make a 180º shift in his strategy for fighting the virus. What started as an optimistic and reassuring speech, in which the only constant request to citizens was that they “wash their hands for the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice” has led to urgent calls for citizens to avoid a collapse being announced. NHS. Johnson wanted to resist to the end for imposing authoritarian measures that were excessive for the character and message of a politician with a reputation as a libertarian and a small friend of coercion.

The support response for the new measures from the main opposition party was imminent. “The Prime Minister did the right thing by asking people to stay home, to protect the NHS and save lives (…) We now need clear instructions for which workers and employers they should close, and offer security to the self-employed, tenants and those who have to pay the mortgage”, replied Labor leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

Hours before Johnson’s message, the UK Foreign Office asked the millions of Britons who are still abroad, on holiday or business trips, to return immediately. The government warned them that it would not be able to charter commercial aircraft in the coming days.

At nine in the morning of this Monday, the death toll from coronavirus in the UK has reached 335. The number of confirmed cases stands at 6,650. NHS workers across the country have started sending desperate messages to residents, in front of the prime minister, to stay home and help stem the avalanche.

Information about the coronavirus

– Here you can follow the last hour on the evolution of the pandemic

– Map of the coronavirus: that’s how cases are growing day by day and country by country

– Questions and answers about the coronavirus

– Guide to action against disease

– If there are symptoms, it is a mobile that has been activated in each community