Tube users were forced to cram into carriages after reduced services for key workers left London transport packed once again amid coronavirus chaos.
Mayor Sadiq Khan previously said that the Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway Service could be ‘scaled down’ as thousands of commuters work from home.
But passengers have been urging him to reconsider as they are now continually forced to travel in close proximity to one and another, breaking the two-metre distancing rule.
Tube users were forced to cram into carriages after reduced services for key workers left London transport tightly packed once again. Pictured: Central Line on Sunday
Mayor Sadiq Khan previously said that the Underground, Overground and Docklands Light Railway Service could be ‘scaled down’ as thousands of commuters work from home. Pictured: Tube on Friday
Passengers have been urging Sadiq Khan to reconsider the ‘scaled down’ services as they are now continually forced to travel in close proximity to one and another. Pictured: Commuters in face masks on Friday
Speaking on on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, Mr Khan said that public transport should only be used for critical workers and added that his office has now implemented an ‘enhanced cleaning regime on all TfL estates’.
‘The advice at the moment is not to give them masks, if the advice changes then of course we will change this. But the NHS still don’t have what they need.
‘Stay at home unless you have good reason to leave your home, it’s important everyone works from home’.
But photos similar to those seen earlier in the week showed dozens of commuters putting themselves at risk on board London’s public transport on Sunday.
Londoners were seen walking around parks this weekend after leisure centers and gyms closed
As the UK death toll reached 233, with 5,018 people infected, pubs, clubs, restaurants and other social venues have shut their doors to customers in order to stave off the deadly infection.
Despite this many Londoners continued to leave their homes this weekend with many taking to parks across the city to socialise with friends and family members.
London is the worst hit city in the UK and Mr Khan today claimed he has been lobbying Boris Johnson’s government in order for stricter measures to be implemented across the capital.
There have been 51 deaths in the capital and 1,221 confirmed cases of the illness.
Customers sit at tables inside a pub in London on March 20 before they were ordered to close
During the same interview, Mr Khan also slammed the government for ‘not letting him attend Cobra meetings’ and declared Londoners need to stay in doors to ‘protect the ones they love’ amid the coronavirus outbreak.
He was questioned on whether or not Londoners had understood how serious the situation in the capital currently is.
‘I am clear, life has changed and we have to do things differently for a while now.
‘Social interaction will spread the virus. Do shopping for elderly neighbours, only buy what you need.’
He added that people needed to practice social distancing for their vulnerable loved ones and said if people didn’t then they ‘will die’.
Marr said there had been a clear ‘change in tone’ after the government had initially allowed pubs and restaurants to continue to run before it ordered them to close on Friday night.
Sadiq Khan this morning said he was frustrated by the government as it hadn’t let him attend a cobra meeting
‘My frustration with government is that only last Monday they allowed me to attend Cobra, things are worse in London, if we don’t keep our social distance people will die. I’m working from home and others should too.’
Asked whether or not parks and other public places should be closed, Mr Khan said people need to recognise the severity of the situation.
‘I have been lobbying the government.
‘There are instructions and rules we need to obey to stop people dying. Making sure there is no confusion or mixed messages, people should not be leaving their homes unless they have to, they can walk dogs or exercise, but mixing socially leads to more people dying.’
He added that emergency bills that will go through parliament next week will give additional powers to police in order to allow them to enforce stricter rules upon the public and social gatherings.
‘Unless people stay at home and stop using public transport then more people will die.
‘Please stop mixing and stay at home.’
There has been much speculation on whether or not London, a ‘city of super spreaders’ would be locked down due to the rapid spread of the virus.
Mr Khan added: ‘We are a global city, we have connectivity around the country and density. All of us need to follow the advice, we are running a weekend service during the week.
‘No one else apart from critical workers should be using public transport.’