London’s usually busy streets deserted

Britain’s streets on Saturday night show an almost deserted central London amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

The usually buzzing nightlife areas of Piccadilly, Soho and China Town, saw only a fraction of their usual visitors, many of whom can be seen wearing protective masks.

Britain is yet to take this measure the government has said it plans to deploy troops at hospitals and outside supermarkets as the epidemic worsens and panic grips the public.

Mr Hancock said the government did not want to act too soon in the UK this morning, but warned older people will have to go into self isolation.

Older people with underlying heath conditions are particularly at risk if they catch the coronavirus.

Mr Hancock called the outbreak – which has killed 21 people and infected 1,140 in the UK – “one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced for a generation”.

“The measures we’re looking at taking are very, very significant and they will disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in the country,” he added.