Boris Johnson says the Government will 'stop at nothing' to tackle coronavirus
2 min read
Ministers and health chiefs "will stop at nothing" to tackle the spread of the deadly coronavirus, Boris Johnson will say as he finally chairs an emergency meeting on the crisis.
The Prime Minister will speak out at meeting of the Government's Cobra committee where a battle plan for dealing with the spread of the illness will be signed off.
Mr Johnson will say that the disease "will present a significant challenge" for the UK, as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise.
Thirteen new cases were confirmed on Sunday - including the first in Scotland - taking the UK total to 36.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the Government was prepared to shut down entire cities as a way of containing the outbreak.
The PM, who on Sunday visited Public Health England's lab in Colindale, north London, where testing for the virus is taking place, will tell the Cobra meeting: "The number of coronavirus cases around the world is rising every day - and the UK is no exception.
"There now seems little doubt that it will present a significant challenge for our country. But we are well prepared, and the government and the NHS will stop at nothing to fight this virus.
"This battle plan lays out in detail the measures we could use - if and when they are needed."
Measures contained in the plan are thought to include ordering millions of people to work from home, the closure of schools and cancellation of major sporting events.
Meanehile, the Lib Dems have called on the Government to postpone the start of the UK-EU trade talks - which are due to begin on Monday - while the effort to contain coronavirus continues.
Ed Davey, the party's interim leader, said: "Rather than obsessing with his own self-imposed Brexit deadlines, the Prime Minister must wake up, and recognise that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
"During this gathering storm, the national interest surely suggests that the PM should seek an extension of the Brexit transition period and pause the trade talks.
"Then the NHS and local communities can get the funds and the focus they deserve, and the UK can talk to our European neighbours about how we can co-operate against the Coronavirus which does not recognise national borders."
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