1,500,000 Britons asked not to leave house for 12 weeks

The government has strongly asked people who fall into the high-risk categories to exercise shielding measures by staying at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact. Children and adults already suffering from serious health conditions face the highest risk of needing hospital treatment for the deadly virus.

London:The UK's National Health Services (NHS) have asked one-and-half million Britons who were most at risk from the novel coronavirus to stay at home at all times for at least 12 weeks.

"The NHS will be contacting these people in the coming days urging them to stay at home for at least 12 weeks," the communities minister Robert Jenrick said on Sunday.

Children and adults already suffering from serious health conditions face the highest risk of needing hospital treatment for the deadly virus, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The government has strongly advised people who fall into the high-risk categories to exercise shielding measures by staying at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact.

The DHSC said people with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase infection were also classed as high-risk.

The UK has so far reported 281 deaths and 5,683 confirmed cases.

(With inputs from IANS)