UK plans curfews if social distancing rules ignored in coronavirus fight

The UK government on Monday warned that tougher lockdown measures, including curfews akin to those in place in other European countries such as France and Italy, would have to be enforced to limit the spread of the coronavirus if "selfish people continued to put lives in danger by not following social distancing rules.

The warning comes as Parliament is set to speed through emergency legislation that would grant powers aimed at tackling the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic, with 5,683 confirmed cases and 281 deaths in the UK.

The Coronavirus Bill will create powers for the police to disperse people or keep them indoors. The proposals, to be time-limited for two years, could also include complete airport shutdowns, fast-tracking funeral arrangements, and allowing more court hearings to take place by phone or video.

"If people go within two metres of others who they don't live with then they're helping to spread the virus and the consequences of that costs lives and it means that, for everyone, this will go on for longer It's very selfish," said UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, in reference to images of swathes of people in parks and other open spaces over the weekend.

Asked if the Cabinet would be considering curfews and a firmer lockdown at its regular meeting on Monday, he added: "Nothing is off the table. Of course we are looking at what other European countries are doing."