STRICT new curbs on life have been put in place for all residents in the UK.

On March 23, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has imposed new measures to restrict the spread of coronavirus as the country goes into an effective lockdown.

These include only going outside for food, health reasons or essential work; staying two metres (six-feet) away from other people and washing hands immediately upon arriving at home.

Every person is to comply with the new measures.

The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given powers to enforce them – including fines and dispersing gatherings.

Addressing the public on Monday night, Mr Johnson said: "Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses.

"From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home.

"Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.

"That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible one form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household; any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.

"That’s all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home."

People should not meet with friends or family members who do not live in their home.

Shopping for essentials like food and medicine should be done as little as possible. People are being urged to use food delivery services where they can.

All shops selling non-essential goods,​ including clothing and electronic stores have been closed along with libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship.

Gatherings of more than two people in public have been stopped.

All social events​, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals, have been halted.

Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed.

Restrictions will be under constant review and will be looked at again in three weeks.

Responding to the measures, Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales, said: "Over the last few weeks, we have asked everyone in Wales to make changes to the way we live our lives. We have asked you to stay at home. We’ve asked you to work from home if you can and not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary.

"We’ve done this to slow the spread of coronavirus in Wales. To save lives and to protect our NHS.

"But now we have to introduce more, even tighter measures.

"From now on, all high street shops will be closed, except those selling food, pharmacies, banks and post offices.

"Local NHS services, including your GP, will continue to be open.

"All social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, as well as gatherings of more than two people in public should not take place. Funerals will continue to be held but only with close family present.

"We’re asking everyone to stay at home – please only go out once a day to shop for basic food if you have to and to exercise close to home.

"Everyone should now also work from home, if you can.

"Now these are really big changes for us all. We are making them because of the speed the virus is continuing to spread.

"Please help us protect you and to save lives. Together, we can do this."

The Shadow Health Minister, Angela Burns AM, said: "We have woken up to a new United Kingdom today, one that libertarian politicians and other people alike hoped would never be required.

“The stark fact is that these measures are required to defeat Covid-19 (Coronavirus), and what was advice is now a set of rules.

“Just to reiterate, this is not an option, but how we must live and behave for the time being so that – as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last night – these measures can be reviewed in three weeks. This is for our health, and our national safety, and I urge all people in Wales to adopt these measures.

“What is an already stretched NHS Wales will be stretched further, so to get behind our outstanding doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied healthcare workers, please abide by these rules."

Full guidance and the measures that the government are taking can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus. Also visit phw.nhs.wales