The UK Prime Minister has ordered the closure of cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants and gyms from tonight in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19.

The UK Department of Health has yet to announce its latest coronavirus figures but as of lunchtime yesterday, it had confirmed 3,269 cases.

Meanwhile, the number of patients who have died is now at 177 after there were 39 new deaths in England.

A third person in Wales has also died.

Meanwhile the number of cases in the North has risen to 86.

COVID-19

Announcing the new measures at Downing Street this evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We need to keep people apart.”

Addressing anyone considering going out tonight he said: “You may be tempted to go out tonight and I say to you please don’t, you may think that you are invincible - but there is no guarantee that you will get mild symptoms.”

“You can still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on.

“We want you as far as possible to stay at home.”

"Critical incident"

This afternoon, a hospital in north London declared a “critical incident” after its critical care unit hit capacity.

Northwick Park Hospital has contacted neighbouring facilities to ask for help.

The shutdown will see cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres, gyms, cinemas and leisure centres closing from tonight.