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The UK reported 5,683 coronavirus cases and 281 deaths. Here's all we know about how the virus is spreading across Britain.

Airport employee coronavirusMarco Di Lauro/Getty

  • March 21: The UK has reported 5,683 coronavirus cases and 281 deaths linked to the virus.
  • NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis criticised British people for stockpiling food and cleaning out supermarkets.
  • The UK's pubs, restaurants, gyms and cinemas were all closed on Saturday.
  • All UK schools will be closed from this week as the government steps up its efforts to fight the virus.
  • Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the government would pay up to 80% of people's wages to stop businesses from going bankrupt.
  • The UK government is set to introduce a range of new emergency laws like giving police the power to detain people with coronavirus who are not self-isolating.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A total of 5,683 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK and 281 people have died, the Department of Health said on Saturday, March 21.

On the same day, NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis criticised shoppers for stockpiling unnecessary amounts of food. "It is critical that by not stockpiling, by not selfishly shopping, by leaving these supplies for others too, that our health workers are able to get access to what they need," he said.

Boris Johnson on Thursday said Britain "can turn the tide within the next 12 weeks," but only if people "take the steps outlined" like working from home and not going to public places like pubs and restaurants. Those places ended service on Friday night.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson on Wednesday said that all schools across England would be closed from next week. The governments of Scotland and Wales said schools in their nations would be closed too.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced huge financial support for businesses and workers impacted by the coronavirus, including £330 billion worth of loans for businesses struggling to stay afloat.

Sunak has also announced emergency support for thousands of workers facing redundancy. He said the UK government would provide struggling businesses with grants to pay for 80% of the salaries of employees.

Anyone with symptoms, or anyone who lives with someone experiencing symptoms, has been told to self-isolate at home for 14 days.

"We need people to start working from home where they can and you should avoid pubs, clubs and other venues," Prime Minister Johnson said earlier this week.

The coronavirus causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19. More than 12,987 people have died and more than 305,145 others have been infected worldwide, mostly in China. Cases have been recorded in at least 105 countries.

For the latest global case total, death toll, and travel information, see Business Insider's live updates here.

Carry on reading below for the latest updates on how the virus is spreading across Britain.

Kieran Corcoran, Alison Millington, and Rachel Hosie contributed reporting to this post.

The UK government effectively nationalises the railways to ensure trains keep running

REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

The UK government has all-but nationalised Britain's railways for a period of at least six months, in order to ensure key workers like doctors, nurses, and other emergency service personnel can travel during the coronavirus crisis.

The UK government will suspend all franchise agreements and take control of all revenue, the Department for Transport announced on Monday (March 23.) Private operators will continue to run services for a "small predetermined management fee," the department said.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Today's offer will provide greater flexibility to the train operators and the government and make sure the railway can continue to react quickly to changing circumstances and play its part in serving the national interest.

"It will ensure vital services continue to operate for key workers who are keeping the nation running and that we are able to reinstate a normal service quickly when the situation improves."

 



Boris Johnson threatens to close parks if people don't keep his 'two metre rule'

Getty

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has threatened to impose "further measures" to close UK parks and other public spaces if the public don't follow government social distancing guidelines to keep two metres apart from other people.

"If people can't make use of parks in a way which observes the two metre rule then, of course, we will have to take further measures," Johnson said.

He indicated that these measures would be similar to the sorts of lockdown on public spaces seen in other European countries.

The Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick also announced that the government would tomorrow write to the most clinically vulnerable people in the country advising them to stay at home for 12 weeks.



There have been 5,683 confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK

Reuters / Toby Melville

A total of 5,683 people have tested positive for coronavirus with 281 deaths in the UK as of Sunday morning the Department of Health said.




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