Ministers plan police powers to arrest coronavirus patients who are not self-isolating

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said "we will stop at nothing" in tackling the Covid-19 outbreak
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Ministers are planning to give police the power to arrest people with coronavirus who are not self-isolating, the Health Secretary has confirmed.

Mr Hancock also said bars, restaurants and shops other than supermarkets and pharmacies could be shut while over-70s will be asked in the coming weeks to stay indoors for up to four months.

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The Health Secretary confirmed a report that emergency legislation being drawn up by the Government will include allowing police the power to arrest infected citizens.

BBC handout photo of Health Secretary Matt Hancock (right) on the Andrew Marr show. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday March 15, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA WireBBC handout photo of Health Secretary Matt Hancock (right) on the Andrew Marr show. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday March 15, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire
BBC handout photo of Health Secretary Matt Hancock (right) on the Andrew Marr show. PA Photo. Issue date: Sunday March 15, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire

"We are going to take the powers to make sure that we can quarantine people if they are a risk to public health, yes, and that's important," Mr Hancock told the Andrew Marr Show on the BBC.

"I doubt that actually we will need to use it much because people have been very responsible."