Workers could be asked to stay at home while Boris Johnson publishes a coronavirus action plan

Employees can be encouraged to work from home if the coronavirus continues to spread, confirms Premier Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson is to present the government's action plan to combat the spread of the coronavirus. He will hold a press conference at Downing Street to launch the plan, alongside chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

This comes after four new cases in the UK, including people from Hertfordshire, South Devon and Kent, have been confirmed. All had recently traveled to Italy, which is experiencing the largest epidemic in Europe.

Mr Johnson said: "It is very likely that the coronavirus will spread more widely in the days and weeks to come, which is why we are preparing all possible preparations."

The measures of the plan include:

• The option, if the virus spreads, of encouraging more work at home and discouraging unnecessary travel as part of a social distancing strategy that could delay the peak of the epidemic until later in the year, which could help fight the virus in hot weather.

• With regard to the emergency registration of retired health professionals, the introduction of emergency indemnity cover for workers of health in order to provide care or diagnostic services and relaxation of the rules regarding staff / pupil ratios in educational and childcare establishments

• Each government department with a designated ministerial virus leads to overseeing the response to the global threat of the virus, for example in schools or businesses

• A war room set up in the Cabinet Office, bringing together communications experts and scientists from across government and the NHS to launch the public information campaign

• Coronavirus is a standing item on the weekly Cabinet agenda, with PM continuing to oversee government approach

Later in the week, a major public information campaign will be launched, outlining clear steps the public can take to limit the spread of the virus, including washing their hands regularly with soap and soap. ;water.

New laws released in the coming weeks to guarantee the government all the powers necessary to prepare for and fight the coronavirus epidemic.

On Monday, the Prime Minister convened the COBR government's emergency committee on the coronavirus epidemic, where participants discussed, finalized and approved the battle plan.

He said: "If the virus spreads, we are ready to take the necessary measures to contain it and protect the most vulnerable.

"But we can all continue to do our part to fight this virus – by washing our hands with soap and water for the time it takes to sing happy birthday twice."

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised that the NHS and British scientists will get the funding they need to fight the coronavirus.

And he said he was ready to help to support the economy, including in next month's budget statement.

In the United States, the United Kingdom and elsewhere, the stock markets have already experienced major declines. The coronavirus could have a major impact on the British economy if it resulted in the closure of offices and factories, as happened in China.

Sunak said: We are well prepared for this global threat and, as the broader economic situation becomes clearer, we are ready to announce additional support if needed.

The Chancellor has instructed officials to develop new measures to support the public health, business and economic response, as needed.

One of the cases diagnosed on Monday was a worker from the offices of the North East London NHS Foundation Trust at Vinters Business Park near Maidstone in Kent.

Another is someone from a high school in Torbay.

Some 13 new patients in the UK were diagnosed on Sunday, including a staff member from Wimbledon College and a clinician from the Mount Vernon Cancer Center in Northwood, Middlesex, which is part of the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.

Three of the new cases in England were linked to a man from Surrey, infected in the United Kingdom.

Globally, around 86,000 people have been infected, with more than 3,000 deaths.