The PM has chaired the emergency Cobra committee with the UK's tactics shifting from 'containing' the killer disease to merely 'delaying' its inevitable spread.
The number of UK cases has risen by 130 and the death toll hit 10 in the last 24 hours, with experts increasingly bracing for turmoil as the overwhelming majority of the population becomes infected and the country develops 'herd immunity'.
The FTSE plunged by more than 9 per cent in response to the dramatic US announcement of a travel ban from Europe overnight, and growing global chaos.
Slowing the progress through the population will be crucial to avoid the NHS being overwhelmed, as has happened in Italy.
However, the UK's tactics look increasingly out of step with other countries. No10 has dismissed suggestions they will emulate Ireland, which announced this morning that it will close all schools and colleges - although the step is being kept in the locker in case the situation escalates.
And by not banning mass gatherings, experts have warned Mr Johnson is risking an explosion of cases of the life-threatening illness in the next fortnight. Italy saw a dramatic rise in the number of patients infected before they took out unprecedented measures to lock down the entire country last week.
In the first sign of splits within the UK, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today declared that she is 'minded' to cancel mass gatherings of over 500 people from the start of next week, saying that they took up too much time for emergency services.
The government has also made clear it will not follow Donald Trump's dramatic overnight move of closing the borders to travellers from mainland Europe.
Instead Mr Johnson seems determined to take a limited response, asking those with a cold to self-quarantine, and urge vulnerable elderly people to stay indoors.
Former Cabinet minister Rory Stewart this afternoon accused the PM of 'smug insular complacency, warning that without quick action there could be 100,000 cases in the UK within the next 24 days.
'This is at risk of becoming an example of smug insular complacency - refusing to pay any attention to what any other country is doing or the successful public health approach in Asia,' the London Mayor hopeful said. 'We should show some humility, learn from others and act now.'
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who yesterday unveiled a huge £30billion Budget package to 'vaccinate' the economy from the impact of coronavirus, today said the UK was not following the US example.
'The advice we are getting is that there is not evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infections,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'That is why we have taken the decisions that we have.'
On another day of frantic activity by politicians and health experts around the globe:
- Irish PM Leo Varadkar has declared that schools, colleges and childcare facilities are to close for two weeks;
- Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today declared that she is 'minded' to cancel mass gatherings of over 500 people from the start of next week to avoid them sucking up resources for police and health workers;
- The US Congress is shutting the Capitol, House and Senate office buildings to public until April 1 in reaction to coronavirus;
- The FTSE 100 fell by more than 9 per cent today as investors were rattled by US travel restrictions imposed by in an attempt to halt the pandemic;
- The Czech Republic is closing its borders to travellers crossing from Germany and Austria and also banning the entry of foreigners coming from other risky countries to contain the coronavirus outbreak;
- Norway and Lithuania are shutting down nurseries, schools and universities for at least two weeks, and Oslo has told workers to stay at least one metre apart in offices;
- The WHO warned that the travel ban announced by Mr Trump will do little to help combat coronavirus in the UK and could backfire by making people complacent;
- Mr Sunak said he made 'no apology' for turning on the spending taps to counter the effects of the virus on the UK economy and society;
- A Cabinet minister is awaiting the results of a coronavirus test today, with four other MPs in quarantine after health minister Nadine Dorries became the first politician to be diagnosed with the disease;
- Tube and transport systems were quieter than usual as the public preempted the expected advice from government on restricting social contact;
- There are claims every football game in England could be held behind closed doors with live streams for ticket-holders;
- Sittings in Parliament could be scaled back and the authorities are considering closing to visitors amid fears of spread on the estate.
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