Elderly to be kept in coronavirus isolation at home or in care for FOUR MONTHS in wartime-style plans

PENSIONERS will be told to stay in their homes for months as part of a "wartime-style" isolation plan to combat the coronavirus, Matt Hancock confirmed today.

Officials will change advice in weeks to urge anyone over the age of 70 to stay inside in a bid to save lives as the deadly bug spreads.

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It's just one of a series of strict measures planned by the prime minister as 21 people die of Covid-19 in the UK.

The Health Secretary told Sky's Sophy Ridge this morning: "We set out how we are prepared to do that - for the elderly to protect themselves, to shield themselves by self-isolating.

"We will be setting out when that is necessary - we don't want to do that too soon."

He said the measures would come in "in the coming weeks".

Officials could also take over hotels and other buildings and use them as temporary hospitals, close pubs, bars and restaurants, close schools and plough cash into the speedy manufacture of respirators.

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But Chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance are concerned that some elderly people could die at home from neglect if the quarantine is enforced.

As a result the pair want to start the lockdown as late as possible.

Boris Johnson and health secretary Mr Hancock are hoping that neighbours and loved ones will check in on OAPs to make sure they are ok.

A source said: "We are looking for a huge community effort.”

'STAY INSIDE'

Food delivery companies Uber and Deliveroo could be drafted in to bring food to society's most vulnerable during the lockdown.

Public Health England today confirmed 1,140 coronavirus cases in the UK - a 40 per cent spike in 24 hours from yesterday's 798 cases and marking the biggest daily leap yet.

The first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with coronavirus was announced on March 5, and today's announcement of 10 deaths is by far the largest number of deaths announced on a single day in the UK since the outbreak took hold.

This evening, France announced the closure of restaurants, cafes and clubs during a large-scale lockdown.

Closer to home, shoppers are stripping supermarket shelves of essential items like toilet paper and dried pasta in a bid to stockpile goods.

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