Coronavirus: Brexit trade talks cancelled due to epidemic as Johnson says more families will see loved ones die from Covid-19

Up to 10,000 are likely infected with disease, chief scientific adviser warns

Brexit trade talks due to take place between the UK and EU in London next week have been cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic, as Boris Johnson warned more families would see their loved ones die from the virus.

The prime minister said Covid-19 was “the worst public health crisis for a generation” as the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, warned up to 10,000 people in the UK were likely infected with the disease.

Mr Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Thursday during which he moved Britain’s response to the outbreak to the “delay phase” and implemented new measures to try to protect the elderly and vulnerable.

He said anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, such as a continuous cough or high temperature, should self-isolate for seven days.

The prime minister also said school trips abroad should be stopped, while people over 70 with serious medical conditions should not go on cruises.

It came as two more deaths were announced in British hospitals and the number of people in the UK who have officially tested positive for coronavirus reached 596. Ten people have now died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19.

Mr Johnson said there was no need to close schools yet as the scientific advice “is that this could do more harm than good”.

He said this may change at some point and in the future, if somebody is taken ill, their entire household could be told to self-isolate.

That measure is not being advised yet, the prime minister said, but he added: “I want to signal now that this is coming down the track.”

“We’ve all got to be clear, this is the worst public health crisis for a generation,” he said.

“Some people compare it to seasonal flu, alas that is not right.

“Due to the lack of immunity this disease is more dangerous.

“It is going to spread further and I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”

Stressing the need to protect others, Mr Johnson said: “If you have coronavirus symptoms, however mild, either a new continuous cough or a high temperature, then you should stay at home for at least seven days to protect others and help slow the spread of the disease.”

He said the government was also “considering the question of banning major public events such as sporting fixtures”.

The prime minister made the announcement as:

• The FTSE 100 closed the day down by more than one 10th as fears over Covid-19 sparked the index’s worst fall since 1987
• The World Health Organisation said it was “deeply concerned” some countries are not handling the pandemic with “the level of political commitment needed to control it”
• Several universities said they were ending face-to-face lessons
• The Electoral Commission recommended local elections in May be postponed
• Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said mass gatherings of over 500 people in Scotland are set to be restricted
• Ireland announced the closure of schools and tourist attractions until the end of the month
• Cruise companies began postponing trips
• Philip Jansen, chief executive of BT Group, was confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday afternoon

The chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, said, in agreement with counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the risk rating from coronavirus has been raised to high.

Explaining the advice to self-isolate for seven days, Prof Whitty acknowledged it was “something which will interfere with their lives and interfere with their work and their social life in quite significant ways”.

But he said “it helps to protect older and more vulnerable people” and would also reduce, and possibly delay, the peak of the epidemic, making it easier for the NHS to cope.

The prime minister added: “There is no escaping the reality that these measures will cause severe disruption across our country for many months.

“The best scientific advice is that this will help us slow the disease and save lives.”

In a message to the elderly, Mr Johnson said that although the disease was “particularly dangerous” for them, the vast majority would experience “a mild-to-moderate illness”.

He said the most dangerous period was still some weeks away – and Professor Whitty added that the elderly would soon be told to stay home.

Additional reporting by agencies