LONDON: Britain has imposed lockdown to tackle the coronavirus pandemic after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced sweeping curbs on daily activities including the banning of gatherings of more than two people.

Prime Minister Johnson instructed the public to ‘stay at home’ except a few exceptions.

He said he was ordering stores and shops not selling essential goods, such as food and medicines, to close immediately.

PM Johnson said that it was critical to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading between people and households and that police would be instructed to break up gatherings of more than two people in order to deal with what he said the ‘biggest threat’ the UK has faced for decades.

Prime Minister Johnson told people: “You must stay at home.”

British government figures show some 54 more people infected with the virus had died since Sunday, bringing the UK’s total to 335.

(With inputs from Agencies)