UK’s coronavirus ‘battle plan’ unveiled by Boris Johnson

Britons could be forced to put their lives on hold for three months under a ‘battle plan’ to combat Coronavirus amid warnings today that the deadly disease could incapacitate a fifth of the UK’s workforce.

Boris Johnson today set out the Government’s blueprint to deal with a mass outbreak of the bug that includes a raft of socially and economically costly contingency moves as a last resort. 

Sporting events could be axed and a ‘social distancing’ strategy would see people encouraged to work from home to avoid unnecessary travel, while an army of NHS volunteers could be recruited to help ease the burden on the health service. 

As the number of confirmed UK cases passed 50, it revealed police could ignore low-level crime and troops could be deployed on the streets if officers are incapacitated through illness.

Hospital patients not suffering from the disease could also be sent home to free up beds, and local authorities will be helped with the ‘challenge’ of dealing with increasing numbers of deaths among the elderly and vulnerable.

These measures could be in place of up to 12 weeks in a bid to contain the spread of the virus and treat those affected. 

The striking scenario emerged as Boris Johnson published the action plan, warning at a press conference that it was now ‘highly likely’ there would be a major outbreak of coronavirus in the UK. 

The threat was underlined this afternoon as it emerged the number of confirmed cases has jumped from 39 to 51 in the past day. 

The PM said the government would take all ‘necessary and reasonable steps’, but appealed for the public to keep ‘going about our business as usual’.

Asked whether he thought the UK still had the ‘bulldog spirit’ to combat the virus, the premier said: ‘I do think that this is a national challenge. The potential is there for this to be something that our country has to get through.

‘But I have absolutely no doubt that we have the resources, we have the health service to get through it.’

The report stresses that the response is still in the ‘containment’ phase, with just 39 confirmed cases in this country so far. But expert fear that they will have to shift to ‘delay’ tactics – effectively damage limitation – within days or weeks after a rising infections across Europe.

A reasonable ‘worst case scenario’ would see 80 per cent of the UK population contract the virus, with up to a fifth of employees unable to work in ‘peak weeks’. Such an outbreak could take hold within weeks, and it would be three months before its highest point was reached.

Scientists are still hoping that if rapid spread can be staved off until the summer warmer weather will help, but are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the prospects of avoiding a major outbreak in the UK.

The 28-page ‘action plan’ published by the government today was agreed at the first emergency Cobra meeting to be chaired by the PM yesterday. 

It states that the ‘vast majority’ of cases will have only mild-to-moderate effects on individuals, but points out that the virus is highly infectious.

‘As it is a new virus, the lack of immunity in the population (and the absence as yet of an effective vaccine) means that Covid 19 has the potential to spread extensively,’ the document says. 

‘The current data seems to show that we are all susceptible to catching this disease, and thus it seems more likely than not that the UK will be significantly affected.’

In other key developments today:

• The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.5 per cent in a shock emergency move designed to shield the world’s largest economy from the impact of the coronavirus;
• There is speculation the Bank of England could follow suit after governor Mark Carney said the international economic response to coronavirus will be ‘powerful and timely’, but played down fears there will be a worse hit than the 2008 credit crunch;

• The Treasury is preparing to find billions of pounds in next week’s budget to help firms cope with the financial fallout; 
• BA, EasyJet and Ryanair cancelled hundreds of flights, ruining the plans of thousands of travellers;

• Global economic growth could be slashed in half, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development;

• The public were urged to clean their smartphone screens with alcohol wipes twice a day to help prevent the spread;

• At least 11 more schools closed after positive coronavirus tests or scares – despite Government advice to shut only on the orders of health officials;

• The NHS 111 helpline reported it was receiving a 70 per cent increase in calls compared with last year;

• Stores reported seeing a surge in panic buying and experts warned of food riots in a worst-case scenario;

• As many as five million workers could be left without sick pay if they are forced to stay home;

• The Health Secretary said the Government had powers to compel patients to self-isolate if they refused to;

• The World Health Organisation warned that the situation was now ‘uncharted territory’;

• Buckingham Place said an investiture today would go ahead and there were no plans to alter royal itineraries;

• City firms banned ‘hot desking’ and large meetings of more than 25 staff.

Speaking in Downing Street today, flanked by Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty and chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance, Mr Johnson said the Government’s plan was to ‘contain, delay, research, mitigate’.

‘Let me be absolutely clear that for the overwhelming majority of people who contract the virus this will be a mild disease from which they will speedily and fully recover as we have already seen,’ he said.

‘But I fully understand public concern, your concern, about the global spread of the virus and it is highly likely that we will see a growing number of UK cases and that’s why keeping the country safe is the Government’s overriding priority, and our plan means we are committed to doing everything possible, based on the advice of our world-leading scientific experts, to prepare for all eventualities.’

The plan published today says in the event of mass infections Government ‘will aim to minimise the social and economic impact, subject to keeping people safe’.

There would be ‘population distancing strategies’ such as school closures, encouraging greater home working, and reducing the number of large scale gatherings to slow the spread of the disease.

Pensioners would be advised to stay away from events such as VE Day commemorations to avoid putting themselves at risk. However, experts say that an infected person is as likely to pass on the virus to 12 people in a pub as in a 70,000 seater stadium. 

Police ‘would concentrate on responding to serious crimes and maintaining public order’ if forces suffer ‘a significant loss of officers and staff.’ 

Meanwhile, the armed forces could be called upon to ‘backfill’ gaps in emergency services and provide other assistance if required.

‘The Ministry of Defence has put in place plans to ensure the delivery of its operations in the UK and overseas. There are also well-practiced arrangements for Defence to support to civil authorities if requested,’ the document says.

The police could be asked to enforce road and building closures, and the Army could be drafted in to enforce lockdowns where necessary. 

The report also highlights the threat to the NHS, which could come under extreme pressure from a wave of a cases. 

Under mitigation plans, non-coronavirus patients could be discharged early from hospital to recuperate at home, and routine operations postponed. Recently retired doctors, nurses and other staff could be brought back to help increase capacity.

‘Some non-urgent care may be delayed to prioritise and triage service delivery. Staff rostering changes may be necessary, including calling leavers and retirees back to duty.’

‘We will consider legislative options. If necessary, to help systems and services work more effectively in tackling the outbreak.’

Closing schools would not necessarily be an initial step as children seem less badly affected by coronavirus, but the option is being kept open. Teachers could also be allowed to take larger classes than usual to help reduce disruption to society.  

The plan also makes a grim reference to the need to deal with the strain on morgue capacity should a serious outbreak occur. 

‘There could well be an increase in deaths arising from the outbreak, particularly among vulnerable and elderly groups,’ it said.

‘The UK government and devolved administrations will provide advice for local authorities on dealing with this challenge.’

Mr Johnson there were ‘long-established’ emergency plans for ensuring everyone who died was treated with dignity. 

Asked about the military being drafted in to help keep order, he said: ‘The army is of course always ready to back-fill as and when, but that is under the reasonable worst case scenario.’

The PM gathered his Cabinet earlier, after putting himself at the head of the response.

Downing Street insiders have warned that ‘life can not carry on as we know it’ if the virus gets a full grip in the UK.  

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to tear up his Budget plans to focus on the issue, unlocking billions of pounds to bolster services and prop up businesses hammered by the economic consequences. 

Mr Johnson warned yesterday of a ‘very significant expansion’ of the disease, possibly in days, as it spreads across Europe. However, amid signs of panic in schools and shops, he called for ‘business as usual’ for now, with the focus still on containing coronavirus.

Four more cases were confirmed yesterday – but one of those was later ruled a false alarm – making the national total 39.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this afternoon that the total had risen to 51.

In a Commons statement, he said: ‘The situation facing the country is increasingly serious.

‘Globally and at home the number of cases continues to rise.

‘As of 9am today there were 51 confirmed cases in the UK and it’s becoming more likely that we will see widespread transmission here in this country.’

Mr Hancock added: ‘Our approach is to plan for the worst and work for the best.’

Earlier he said the government was pushing through emergency legislation to take the powers it might need in the coming weeks. 

‘Right now, we do not recommend the cancelling of mass events and schools as well should not be closing unless there is a positive case and the schools have the advice to close,’ Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast.

‘There maybe things we have to do down the line that we don’t want to, but we will need the powers to do that hence proposing emergency legislation.’

Would-be NHS volunteers have to wait between three and six months while they undergo criminal records checks, occupational health assessments and training.

By the time they have been cleared, the pandemic is likely to have come and gone and Mr Hancock is hoping to make the process easier and more efficient.

Later this week a major public information campaign will be launched setting out clear steps the public can take to limit the spread of the virus, including washing their hands regularly.

Nicola Sturgeon, who phoned in to yesterday’s meeting of the Government’s Cobra meeting, revealed that experts believe that in a ‘realistic worst-case’ outcome, 50-80 per cent of Scots could catch the virus in the coming months.

The SNP leader said that 4 per cent of Scots could end up being hospitalised over a long period. 

Whitehall sources acknowledged this could translate into more than two million people across the UK.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak last night acknowledged that a severe outbreak could hit the economy but said the Treasury was working on a package ‘to support your families, your businesses and the public services on which you rely’.

Officials are understood to be preparing to set aside billions of pounds in next week’s budget to help firms and workers cope with the economic fallout from a potentially major epidemic. 

Meanwhile, Bank of England boss Mark Carney has warned the economic shock caused by coronavirus could ‘prove large’, but said central banks and governments worldwide are preparing a powerful response.

The Bank’s outgoing governor told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee that while the hit to the economy in the UK and globally could be significant, it will ‘ultimately be temporary’.

He said UK policymakers stand ready to ‘act as appropriate’ to support the British economy and financial system, and added there was likely to be a fiscal and monetary policy response both here and globally.

The ‘collective response will be both powerful and timely’, according to Mr Carney.

He said: ‘The Bank of England’s role is to help UK businesses and households manage through an economic shock that could prove large but will ultimately be temporary.

‘The Bank will take all necessary steps to support the UK economy and financial system, consistent with its statutory responsibilities.’

He added that he has been holding a series of discussions with the Chancellor over the issue and said the Bank is ensuring ‘all necessary contingency plans are in place’.

The committee heard the Bank is considering a ‘variety of policy options’ while Chancellor Rishi Sunak is also looking at fiscal measures, with the Budget due on March 11.

His comments came as world stock markets rebounded again on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 Index up around 2% on expectations that central banks globally will cut rates to counter the impact of coronavirus.

Mr Carney said the economic impact in hard-hit countries around the world could be felt across at least one quarter and possibly two as the mitigation measures for the outbreak have gone ‘beyond the containment phase to the delay phase’.

Comparing the outbreak to the 2008 financial crisis, he said while that had left lasting scars on the economy, the impact of the virus – also known as Covid-19 – is expected to be ‘disruption not destruction’.

The Bank is set to give more detail on its expectations for the economic impact when it meets to decide on interest rates on March 26. 

Social media has a ‘very important role’ in stopping the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, the Prime Minister has said.

Boris Johnson said social networking platforms had a responsibility to prevent conspiracy theories about the virus spreading online.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a press conference in 10 Downing Street outlining the Government’s plan to respond to the outbreak of the illness, known as Covid-19.

‘We’ve all got to be very responsible and the media has a very important role in this, particularly the social media and electronic media of all types,’ he said.

‘I’m sure that they will want to convey the right messages and convey the right balance of risk.’

It comes as experts warn that the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories about the illness online could cause as much damage as the virus itself. 

Dr Daniel Jolley, senior lecturer in psychology at Northumbria University, and PhD researcher in social and legal psychology, Pia Lamberty, from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, said that allowing misinformation to spread can lead to people distrusting health organisations and potentially ignoring their recommendations – placing their health at risk.

They argue that many conspiracy theories arise during moments of crisis in society as a way of trying to make sense of a chaotic situation. People who believe in such theories tend to distrust groups they perceive as powerful – with many theories revolving around the idea of those in power acting to stay in control.

As a result, the experts warn that if people do not trust health organisations, they are more likely to ignore medical advice and therefore be more at risk.

Panic-buying Brits strip supermarket shelves of pasta, couscous and water 

The shelves of British supermarkets are emptying at pace and staples are being rationed as coronavirus stockpiling spiralled out of control today amid warnings of ‘food riots’ if the crisis worsens.

Shortages previously limited to anti-bacterial hand gel and hand soap have spread to cupboard items such as rice, pasta, couscous, Pot Noodles, bottled water, toilet roll and pet food – as well as chilled items including milk, butter and yoghurt.

Pharmacy shelves are also emptying of paracetamol, ibuprofen and immune-system boosting tablets such as Berocca as people prepare to fight off the flu-like illness that has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide.

Facebook and Twitter is packed with photographs of empty shelves from major supermarkets across the UK where shoppers appear to have thrown empty boxes into the aisles in the mad scramble for items.

MailOnline readers have also shared pictures of their well-stocked larders as people prepare for weeks in isolation.

One reader said: ‘I have been trying for THREE days to buy pasta but I cannot see any as most shops have run out of pasta and pasta sauce’.

The scramble for food has also revealed what Britons do not consider essentials despite a China-style shutdown of communities predicted – including some flavours of crisps and confectionary including Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

Londoner Jasia Warren tweeted: ‘Interesting to see what people are stockpiling in my local supermarket. Bare shelves for rice, pasta, handwash, tissues and loo roll. Also interesting to see what people are not stockpiling: polenta, crumpets and get well cards. Their loss is my gain. #stockpiling’. 

As stockpiling is on the increase, MailOnline can reveal:

• The number of people buying hand sanitiser in British supermarkets jumped from 468,433 in February 2019 to 1,156,102 during the four weeks to February 23 2020, according to sales experts Kantar
• Shopper numbers for liquid soap increased by 400,000 from 7,282,876 to 7,656,645; 
• Supermarket sales of oral painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen grew by 10% in the past four weeks. 

Shops have seen a surge in panic buying fuelled by the coronavirus crisis – and supermarkets have now drawn up contingency plans to ‘feed the nation’ in the event of a sudden escalation, it has emerged.

With two chains already rationing sales, a former Tesco executive said a major outbreak in Britain would ‘quickly lead to empty shelves and food riots’.

Ocado has emailed customers to warn it is running out of home delivery slots due to ‘exceptionally high demand’ and ‘particularly large orders’. 

Waitrose reported ‘seeing more demand for… cleaning products and hand sanitisers’, and Tesco’s website has sold out of hand gel.

Lidl said it is ‘experiencing a significant increase in demand for durable products and disinfectants’. 

It has now limited sales of hand sanitisers to two per customer – as has Boots. 

Industry experts insist that supermarkets have contingency plans to cope with a worst-case scenario and, despite the pressure, will ensure food remains on shelves.

Under the plans, supermarkets would work alongside suppliers to scale back the variety of available foods and groceries, instead paying attention to maintaining the supply of staple products, the Guardian reported. 

However, senior food markets analyst Bruno Monteyne, a former Tesco executive, warned: ‘If a major [coronavirus] outbreak happens, that will quickly lead to panic buying, empty shelves and food riots.’ 

Mr Monteyne, who now works for stockbrokers Bernstein, told industry magazine The Grocer: ‘Plans are surely being drawn up with suppliers to rationalise product ranges when necessary. The objective isn’t to scaremonger… the industry has plans to deal with this.