Coronavirus: as many as 10,000 in Britain may already have it, says PM

Chief medical officer adds that 80% of UK could contract virus, with half a million people dying

Coronavirus - latest updates

Up to 10,000 people may already have coronavirus in Britain and many families should expect to lose loved ones before their time, Boris Johnson warned on Thursday as he set out measures less stringent than those taken by other countries.

Medical, scientific and public health experts criticised the steps outlined to tackle what the prime minister described as the "worst public health crisis for a generation", including ending school trips abroad, stopping older and vulnerable people taking cruises and the use of self-isolation for a temperature and cough lasting four hours.