London goes into lockdown: Here's what we know about how the coronavirus is shutting down the city

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• London is heading for lockdown as the coronavirus pandemic surges across the city.
• All schools, bars, restaurants, cinemas and gyms were closed across the UK from Friday. 
• 40 London Underground Stations have been closed.
• Hospitals report a "critical incident" as the number of coronavirus cases surge in the capital.
• 18 more people died of the coronavirus in London within 24 hours.
• Downing Street denies any plans to prevent people from leaving or entering the city.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

London is going into "lockdown" to prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Friday that all schools pubs, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres would be closed across the UK from Friday.

Further London-specific restrictions have yet to be announced.

However, the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed on Wednesday that the UK government are developing plans for "stringent measures" for the city, which could be announced imminently.

A Downing Street spokesperson on Thursday denied the government has any plans to restrict movement in and out of the city, or that limits would be placed on how many people could leave their homes.

Keep on reading below for the latest information on how the coronavirus pandemic is hitting London.

London congestion charge suspended to keep Londoners off public transport.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed on the Andrew Marr show that the congestion charge and low emission zones have been suspended in order to encourage essential workers to drive where possible rather than taking public transport.

"Don't use public transport unless it is absolutely essential," Khan told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

 

Londoners told to stay at home

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Londoners to stay at home and only leave if it is "essential" for them to venture into the city.

Writing in the Observer newspaper on Sunday, Khan urges Londoners to:

"Avoid social contact. Work from home if you possibly can – my team and I will. Don't use public transport unless you absolutely have to. Do not attend any gatherings. Avoid places of worship. Pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and theatres should all now be closed. Restaurants and cafes must be takeaway or delivery only. Leave your home only if you really have to – to buy food and other essential items, to take a walk or exercise at a safe distance from others."

UK pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes, gyms and cinemas ordered to close

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The UK's bars, restaurants, gyms, nightclubs, leisure centres, and cinemas will all be ordered to close down tonight following a surge of coronavirus cases across Britain.

"Following agreement between all the four nations of the United Kingdom, all the devolved administrations, we will be telling cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants to close tonight as soon as they reasonably can and not to open tomorrow..." Johnson told a press conference on Friday afternoon.

"We're also telling nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, gyms, and leisure centres to close on the same timescale."

Read the full story here.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also:

• London could be put on coronavirus lockdown within days with pubs closed, police guarding shops, and public movement restricted
• Video shows how Fox News rapidly shifted from downplaying coronavirus to taking it seriously as cases rose across the US
• The scientist who helped persuade Trump to take the coronavirus seriously says he's now experiencing symptoms of the disease

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