Health chiefs have declared the epidemic a 'level four incident', which grants them emergency powers to take control of local hospitals.
Coronavirus was ratcheted up to level four status in January, but this was only confirmed today as the government tried to calm public concern by unveiling a four-pronged strategy to tackle the growing crisis.
It came after 12 more coronavirus cases were diagnosed in the UK today, just moments after the PM unveiled the Government's 'battle plan' to tackle a major outbreak of the killer infection on British soil.
In the House of Commons, Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that the number of cases had jumped overnight to 51, warning the situation facing the UK is 'increasingly serious' as fears grow of a crisis.
The new cases were scattered across London, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Humberside and Kent. Eight caught the virus in Italy – the others in Germany, Singapore, Japan and Iran.
Mr Johnson published the Government's action plan today and warned that a major outbreak in Britain is now 'highly likely'. It could see police ignore low-level crime if coronavirus takes hold in the UK.
Troops could be deployed on the streets, infected patients who are not suffering from complications could be sent home from hospital, and non-urgent NHS operations could be cancelled to free up space in overwhelmed hospitals.
The PM also revealed schools could be shut and children allowed to do coursework and sit exams from their home to stop the spread. But he maintained that this would only be worst-case scenario and said schools should not close unless instructed to by Public Health England...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...
