Families could face food rationing as minister vows action if shoppers continue to panic-buy
BRITS will have enough food and ministers stand ready to stop irresponsible people from stockpiling, Matt Hancock said today.
The Health Secretary insisted that Britain will have enough food to keep going through the coronavirus crisis.
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He urged people to “behave responsibly” and stop taking home as many goods as they could – as it was stopping others from getting vital access.
The Health Secretary described the situation as “one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced in a generation” and measures would “disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in the country.”
But he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “We are confident [people will have enough food].
“We will work with supermarkets to make sure that people get enough.”
He pleaded with the public: “People have got to behave responsibly.
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“The supermarkets are right to call on people to be responsible and consider the impact that their stocking up might have on others.
“We stand ready to take further measures if necessary.”
He told the nation: “If you are buying food and loo roll, you buy what you need.”
An emergency COBRA will be held again tomorrow, where more measures will be considered.
And the Environment Secretary will meet with supermarkets to discuss their response.
Rationing goods could be on the table if the situation gets worse.
Emergency legislation will come this week to give the Government the power to quarantine Brits and take other drastic measures if they need to, it was also confirmed today.
The news comes as:
- The UK death toll today shot up to 35 and there are now 1,372 positive cases for the disease
- Hancock confirmed that elderly people would be told to stay inside “in weeks” as the crisis continues
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Spain and Italy are on a 15-day lockdown with flights cancelled and tourists told to ‘stay indoors’
- The Health Secretary couldn’t guarantee that everyone who needs a ventilator will get one – as the PM asked Rolls Royce and JCB to build more
- The Queen has quit Buckingham Palace over coronavirus and has been whisked off to Windsor castle
- Pubs and restaurants could be shut like in Italy to stop the spread, as Matt Hancock refused to rule out extreme measures
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Hotels will be turned into hospitals and operating theatres packed with beds
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Families will be told to self-isolate together if just ONE shows symptoms
A government source said: “There’s a whole load of interventions that we’ve been considering. We’re prepared for all eventualities.”
The Government’s decision on whether to introduce rationing of certain food supplies or other goods such as toilet roll “depends what’s happening on the ground”.
They added: “We’ll take whatever it takes to keep the public safe and we’ll do whatever it takes to ensure life can continue as close to normal as possible.”
Today bosses of all the major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Tesco took out huge adverts in national papers to urge people to only take what they need.
“There is enough for everyone if we all work together,” they wrote today as they begged the nation to help them.
Some supermarkets have already been limiting a certain number of goods per person to try and keep items on the shelves.
It comes after stores across the country were pictured with their shelves completely empty yesterday.
Rice, pasta, tinned goods and toilet roll is all in short supply as Brits prepare for time at home.
One shopper claimed he was mugged for his loo roll after leaving shops yesterday, the MailOnline reported.
The measures we are looking at taking are very significant – they will disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in the country
Matt Hancock
A Costco outlet in Chingford, North East London, was forced to shut and call police after a stampede.
Online sales also went into meltdown, with delivery slots filled until April.
Ocado was forced to block orders from new customers.
Aside from supermarkets, millions Brits chose to stay home yesterday leaving town and city centres ghostly quiet and Tube stations almost empty.
STAY INSIDE FOR MONTHS
Mr Hancock confirmed that elderly people would be told to stay inside “in weeks” as the crisis continues.
Vulnerable and older people will be asked to stay indoors in a matter of weeks.
It will mean they face less care, and being unable to get the supplies they need, in a desperate attempt to stop more from dying.
HOTEL TO HOSPITAL
And hotels will be turned into hospitals and operating theatres packed with beds, Mr Hancock said earlier.
Many empty buildings will be transformed so there’s more space to look after the sick when hospitals become too full to operate.
“We have ready made facilities to look after people,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.
SPAIN & ITALY ON LOCKDOWN
Meanwhile, 47 million people in Spain will be put into partial lockdown on a 15-day state of emergency to fight the spread of coronavirus.
In a televised announcement to the public, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the people of Spain are not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary.
Spaniards will only be allowed to leave to buy food, medicines, go to hospital or work – with limits on freedom of movement starting from midnight tonight.
The death toll in the country has hit 191, the fifth highest number of deaths after behind China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.
CALL FOR VENTILATORS
The Health Secretary couldn’t guarantee that everyone who needs a ventilator will get one.
He told Sky this morning: “We don’t make guarantees in healthcare.”
Just 5,000 ventilators exist across the country, and Boris Johnson will hold a call with firms including JCB and Rolls Royce tomorrow to encourage them to make more.
Money is no object and the Government will pay whatever is needed, he will tell them.
QUEEN LEAVES FOR WINDSOR
The Queen has quit Buckingham Palace over coronavirus and has been whisked off to Windsor castle.
Plans are in place to quarantine her and Prince Philip, 98, at Sandringham if the outbreak worsens.
The Queen was chauffeured to Windsor on Thursday. A royal source said: “She is in good health but it was thought best to move her. A lot of her staff are a bit panicky over coronavirus.”
Palace garden parties for 30,000 guests in May and June are on the brink of being cancelled or postponed.
PUBS COULD SHUT
Pubs and restaurants could be shut like in Italy to stop the spread too.
The Health Secretary refused to rule out anything that might be needed to contain the virus.
Across the continent millions of venues are already locked down.
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