No10 says ‘zero chance’ of banning London travel – but pubs set to close in coronavirus fight

DOWNING Street today declared there is "zero chance" of banning London travel - but pubs in the capital could be closed in the fight against coronavirus. 

No10 slapped down speculation that the capital would be put into lockdown - insisting there were no plans to confine people to their homes as an announcement of new emergency legislation is expected this afternoon.

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No10 dismissed suggestions of a travel ban in and around the capital too.

They said Britain will never see the draconian measures like in France and Italy where people are unable to leave their homes without good reason or paperwork.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "There are no plans to close down the transport network in London and there is zero prospect of any restrictions being placed on travelling in and out of London."

London was not being shut or cut off, but the Government wants to try and ease pressure on the NHS by enforcing the rules better.

But they said new social distancing measures for London were on the cards.

This is likely to include forcing pubs, restaurants and cafes to close.

They also stressed that Brits will also not be confined to their homes as the UK death toll hit 105 with 2,626 cases.

So far 953 people have been infected in London - more than 40 per cent of all confirmed cases in the country.

Troops are not expected to deployed on the streets to ensure public order, either, the PM's spokesperson stressed.

It comes as...

• The UK's death toll hit 137 with more than 2,000 cases
• London's Tube and train shutdown is expected to start this morning
• Schools will be closed across the UK from Friday and exams have been cancelled
• Thugs smashed the doors of a London Sainsbury's amid panic buying

The PM spokesman hit out at irresponsible reporting after the FT claimed that "only one person [could be] allowed to leave home at a time".

And they slapped down claims the army could be drafted in to enforce such a "lockdown".

London's Mayor Sadiq Khan warned today that they should not be travelling in the city unless "absolutely necessary".

"I want to see more Londoners following the expert advice.

"It's critical we see far fewer Londoners using the transport system than is currently the case."

It comes after ten deaths were recorded in London yesterday as UK fatalities jumped by 46 per cent in just 24 hours.

As the killer bug grips Britain, the number of patients to test positive for coronavirus jumped by 676 cases from 1,950 to 2,626.

Schools across the UK will be shut down by the end of the week as part of the response to the deadly bug.

Exams were also cancelled as Boris Johnson promised the one million 16 and 18-year-olds due to take GCSEs and A-levels they will not be penalised.

Forty Tube stations will be closed until further notice and the rest of the capital's transport network to be scaled back dramatically.

Across the globe, the number of coronavirus cases yesterday surged past 200,000.

Meanwhile, coronavirus is continuing to spread across the UK, with patients including babies to pensioners in their 90s.

Boris this week announced drastic new measures in an attempt to slow the spread of the bug.

The PM promised a £350bn 'war-time' bailout to stop coronavirus from wrecking the economy.

It comes as supermarkets have been put under immense strain as shoppers panic buy amid fear of a lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus.

Shoppers have been pictured brawling over toilet paper and booze as panic set in.

And footage filmed this morning shows hundreds of desperate customers lining up to pay for their items in Romford, East London, a day before the capital faces a total lockdown.

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Yesterday, Sainsbury's announced it would limit sales of every item in its stores as it tries to stamp out panic buying.

Customers will be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery item and two of the most popular products, such as toilet paper, soap and UHT milk.

And older shoppers will have stores to themselves for the first hour of opening from tomorrow - plus get priority home delivery slots from Monday.

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