HEALTH secretary Matt Hancock has warned that coronavirus will keep spreading as long as people continue to socialise.

Speaking on talkRadio, Mr Hancock said: "If you stay at home you are saving lives.

"I know, of course, this is a more dangerous disease for older people but not exclusively, some young people get it too.

"But, more importantly, the more that people continue to go out and continue to socialise, the more it will spread and the longer we’re going to have to keep these measures in place.

"So, we’re urging people to follow the public health advice. In the emergency Bill that’s in front of Parliament right now, we are taking the powers to be able to enforce these measures, so we can make it happen by law if we need to.

"I’d rather not do that and the evidence so far is that the vast majority of people are following the advice, are doing what is sensible and right."

Mr Hancock suggested that tougher measures could have to be brought in if people do not follow the Government’s advice.

He told the BBC’s Breakfast programme: "What I can say is that if people follow the advice, stay home which saves lives and if they keep apart from others, more than two metres, more than six foot, then we can tackle this and we can turn the tide.

"The scientists advise that we can turn the tide in 12 weeks if people follow the advice. If people don’t follow the advice, then it’ll be longer and we might have to bring more and tougher measures."

He added: "We have brought these measures in earlier than Italy did in terms of where they’re up to with the number of cases.

"But we’re absolutely clear that if we need to, we have the powers, in fact we’ve got a Bill in front of Parliament now to strengthen those powers further.

"But I think it’s far better if people follow the advice."