Prime Minister Boris Johnson has addressed the nation tonight (Monday) and ordered citizens to lockdown and stay at home with immediate effect.
In order to combat the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, we are all being told to remain inside our homes except in certain circumstances. Such stringent measures haven’t been seen since the war.
Gatherings of more than 2 people in public have been banned, as have events such as weddings – but funerals will still take place for immediate family. Places of worship are to close.
All shops and other businesses selling non-essential goods have been ordered to close from midnight. Shops that can stay open include supermarkets, pharmacies, pet shops, hardware stores, newsagents, petrol stations, banks, post offices, laundrettes and funeral homes.
Islanders are now only allowed to leave their home for:
- Shopping for basic necessities, as the infrequently as possible
- 1 form of exercise a day, alone or with members of the same household
- Any medical need, which includes caring
- Travelling to and from work when absolutely necessary
Police will have the power to fine any individual who disobeys the Government. They will disperse crowds if required.
Those currently abroad have been advised to return home as soon as possible.
The restrictions will be reviewed in 3 weeks’ time.
Boris Johnson has tonight said:
“You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say no.
“You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.
“You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.
“If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.”
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*islanders
Now will someone pull the ferries except for two a day for essential goods and services.
Yes this is essential now before the virus is spread to our communities. It is an easy and an obvious safely measure to take. OK we appreciate that for the few it will be difficult but it will potentially save many lives. Just get it done ASAP please.
the virus is already here on the island…
Stopping people getting to their hospital appointments on the mainland won’t change that.
You can still travel for medical reasons so essential travel only on ferries
Will not be any hospital appointments. I would have had one in Southampton on the 17th April at a clinic I go to every 3 months. Will now be done over the phone.
Hi Mark do you know how many ICU beds our hospital has 8 , that’s it 8. All none emergency hospital appointment have been cancelled by now
So stopping none Islanders to the island is a sensible one. Most come from London and every one of those 8 beds could be taken up by none Islanders. It sad that we have to think this way but the island is a small place with a small hospital.
Stay safe and healthy
Fishbourne packed this afternoon with caravans and Chelsea tractors! Unbelievable!
We still have to consider those who have to have medical treatments at either Southampton or Portsmouth.
Should of done that weeks ago Thank you Seely for not protecting islanders. From London all idiots. Only have there own interests here, Seelys relative on the Board of Ferries maybe.?
See ya all in 3 weeks people! Stay safe!
3 weeks is not enough, the lock down is to allow the NHS to treat current and a lower new case load. Will be locked down for two months at least. Then it only buys time. Go watch thunderfoot videos on youtube.
What about vape shops?
Lambs to the slaughter.
Try on line shopping
One in Shanklin was ope n this morning
They should of locked down the island 3wks ago
He should also order visiters to stay off the island, if we get it here , it will be brought here by them. The ports should be closed as they are in other Islands and only essencial crossings like fuel and consumable goods should be allowed to come hear on the ferries. No point making a lock down if any dangers are left unlocked.
In the news story above ‘too close’ should be ‘to close’ 🙂
I hope and expect that all the mainland ferry terminals will be asking all travellers the purpose of their journey so we don’t get overwhelmed by (even more) ‘isolation holidaymakers’…
Does anyone know what’s happening with the big factories, GKN,VESTAS,VIKOMA etc there’s lots of speculation and confusion wether these places will be locked down to? I see it as common sense that these places should also shut? Thoughts ?
Only essential work. Depends if they’re classed as that
What about workers in non essential production jobs?
The wording non- essential says it all
Stay at home, government paying your wadges.
“Stay at home, government paying your wadges”,.. John,.. it doesn’t work like that !
Gov only pay your wages (well 80% of them) if the company you work for lays you off,.. & then agrees to take you back on.
if the business keeps you on, they have to jump thru hoops to get gev backed loans to keep paying you. & if they lay you off but won’t take you back on (‘cos they stil have to pay other the 20%),.. then you get nothing !
Not a mention of dog walking.
Classed as your exercise. I’ll still need to walk the dog
Ok once a day. Practice social distancing, 2 metres as instructed, just don’t get too close to anyone
stay indoors so will this mean we cant go in our gardens?
No you can go in garden
No Steve your garden is ok, not unless you have loads of people you don’t know in your garden?
Great it could for a long time sort it out people and stop going out
Does anyone know what this means for building sites? Nothings ever been mention?
I expect shutting down too, shame as I know someone that was due to move into their new place in a few weeks.
I’m in the middle of building work, .. the house is now exposed to the weather & the builders can’t even get materials to make it weatherproof 🙁
I had a text from Jewson this morning, they are closed until they get government clarification so no supplies at the moment.
About bloody time lockdown now shut them boats down hospital staff / food / medicines only please
As. A Self employed builder I would like clarification.
Is building essential at the moment? As we are not receiving the same help as employees I guess we just have to carry on ?
Stay at home, suck it up. we’re at war. It’s horrid for you, I get that.
I suppose your income isn’t affected John ? or you’re rich enough to weather this without too much worry
Perhaps, if it’s so easy for you,.. you could share what you’ve got.., with those who now have no income, no help from the government & risk loosing everything
I understand the need to stop this spreading, but saying “suck it up” makes you sound like a right dick!
Erm, it’s not an island thing. It’s a whole country thing. What an odd headline.
Why didn’t they play that over all channels an pause Netflix an suchlike. So everybody possible saw it?
I was born on the island but moved away over 20 years ago. I visit my family here regularly and came 10 days ago to care for my very elderly mother whilst other members of my family here are in isolation. I am now having to say goodbye to my mum for possibly the last time and also not see her on her 90th birthday mainly because idiots couldn’t do as they were asked to by the government. Just think of people like me there are plenty of us and stop being selfish.
Does this stop holiday makers coming on the ferry as we are only a small island and it would not take much to do damage and our hospital can only cope with so many. It should be included no holiday makers for now
Holidays are not essential travel so no they should definitely not be travelling. Hope the ferries have powers to stop them. They’ll be locked down here anyway
This is it. I shall never buy anything else EVER from China, well, not unless it is cheap.
We are all to be living a very basic, impoverished life, not for a while, but for a generation or two.
Education won’t matter now, just basic survival, stealing, stealth and cunning, and don’t expect our Police to do anything to protect you, but mind your car is mot’d.
You really just can’t stop can you!
Get help for your obvious problem.
Did I hear the Wightlink and Chain Ferry running an infrequent service now.
The Chain Ferry has been running an infrequent service for a long time now. 🙂
How about instead of reporting the identical story that every other news agency is in the UK right now, that you focus on asking real and important questions such as, is the Isle of Wight Council going to temporarily cease the need for its residents to pay council tax given that 1/3 on the island are self employed and only entitled to a crappy £94.25 per week? or perhaps, are the Isle of Wight Council willing to issue a no trading ban on Red Funnel and Wightlink except for medical and key workers?…you know, the important things like the livelihood of the residents (most of which are “vulnerable”)….anything? no?
Cancel the scooter rally in August
Cancel the scooter rally in August in
FINALLY…. bet we don’t even have enough police on the island to enforce this lockdown!
I do wonder if the virus had started on the island, would the island have been immediately quarantined, and people wouldn’t be allowed to leave it? with no mainlanders allowed onto it? Yet, with roles reversed, as mainland Britain has the virus almost everywhere… seemingly, they’re allowed to come on here in their droves to escape it and spread it around here. I see more and more tourists every day!
Thankyou people who went out and about at the weekend!
I’ live on the island I’ve been working away in Manchester hull and Chester do I self isolate who’s pays my bills then I’ve been working putting in new hospitals building staying in hotels struggling to get food each night what’s Boris doing for the self employed I hope I’m not a carrier I could be HELP THE SELF EMPLOYED as I will be going out at the weekend shopping for Food then travelling away on Monday
The powers that be really should take the bull by the horns and just do freight ferries.
Requests for ones to not put pressure on St Mary’s is not enough! People will be tempted to shuffle around, as what constitutes as essential will be different in many people’s eyes, (even with a black + white list from the government) that was proven over the weekend.
And with every school closed, how do you know when people decide to go for a walk?
My family members tried three areas to walk, but due to large numbers, they returned home and the dog didn’t get a walk until very late in the evening..
We shouldn’t take it for granted that there’s only two cases on the island, many have been unwell and are recovering after 2/3 weeks isolation with similar symptoms, so who’s to say if it is ‘The Virus’ or not
Stay safe, keep well
u r right. Really irritated to see that they are allowing caravans/mobile homes etc onto our Ireland. They should send them packing.
Do you mean ISLAND!
Well seems pretty much nothing has changed!? The list of “key workers!” Is nearly every work person! So people on Jam roll are only people locked down! Well done Boris!
Use the food delivery services !!!!, Either no slots, slots in three weeks, or where there are slots, most items shown as out of stock.
I have to stay in for 12 weeks. Can’t go shopping, most of the ready means have been removed from my order today because all the selfish hoarders that brought freezers and stole all the food. Thanks, I will be very hungry because of you.
email me maybe I can do some shopping for u [email protected]
Look at the official government website it has detailed instructions as to who and what can remain open. It says hotels b and bs caravan parks etc must close.Gov. Coronavirus will get you there.
Smithy, the official government website’s detailed instructions are:
1.Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes
2.Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
3.Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public
Tell me,.. where does that say anything about builders ?
No I agree it’s not clear on construction sites etc but I was referring to the people that are asking about holiday places shops etc. More clarification is needed definitely. Maybe there should be a helpline for us to ring to get advice.
Dustmen are working today. Would like to say thank you to ALL the council workers that have to work and help us all.
Yes i agree with the thank you and at least they are getting paid
Not like us self employed
Its all wrong
Building sites are open just seen builders at Colwell road freshwater do there think that they are not included in this lockdown idiots
report them
report them for what Celia ?…. for not realising that they are actually a shop ?.. ‘cos that’s what the gov’s mandate said..
“all SHOPS selling non-essential goods must close”!
Old Bean, they’re not (necessarily) idiots,…
There’s no specific directive re. building sites,.. The rules say “all SHOPS selling non-essential goods must close”
building sites & suppliers are not Shops ‘Retail Businesses’…
but the builders won’t be working for long as all the suppliers seem to be now shut.
Aggregate is not essential but for some reason we are being told to stay at work! Greedy!!!! That’s what it all boils down too!!
I went to get all my tools, so when looters mooch around and find goldmine of site tools it’s not just my job it’s my livelihood gone too
Occasionally i used to see a police care drive past, but haven’t seen one of those for ages. so if there are the usual rowdy groups wandering around , who is going to disperse them? It’s a little alarming for when we are on our own having to walk to the shop if there are only rowdy groups of people on the street having a laugh and maybe under the influence of something they’re on.
YOU are able to make a ‘citizens arrest’ if you don’t mind having your jaw broken, skull kicked inwards, and your house windows smashed for the rest of time. This is NOT 1940’s British Britain, but a mix of global low life influence now.
Paths in freshwater being tarmaced is that essential work come on island roads wake up stop putting workers at risk
are places like GKN essential services ??
I dont see the IWC leaving any comments on here
Nothing new as long as they are ok and collecting money from were ever they can
How are we protecting bus drivers?
The official Isle of Wight Tourism website is STILL encouraging people to visit the island.
Yes, they have published all the current Government guidelines on social distancing, essential travel only etc. BUT they then publish ALL the current ferry timetables and announce the following on their designated coronavirus info web page:
‘Many Island attractions and events have postponed dates and opening arrangements, and we recommend that you check their websites for their latest and most up to date information.
Taste of the Wight has a list of changes to pub and restaurant services, including those offering take-way and home delivery’.
Have a look for yourself (on this web page 20% of the space is devoted to Government measures and the other 80% is devoted to how to get here and how to get fed):
https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/travel/coronavirus-information
This is irresponsible behaviour and goes against the spirit of Government direction for all of us to STAY at HOME.
I appeal to the island MP Bob Seely to step in and get this dealt with – have a word!
If the official I.O.W. tourism website continues with this behaviour, more old & vulnerable lives will be lost.
ps
I should not have to be saying all this – the people responsible for the I.O.W. official tourism website should be intelligent people…
WHAT IS IT ABOUT ‘TOURISM IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED’ YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND?
pps – the official I.O.W. website is not necessary for islanders, it is only necessary for and directed at ‘tourists’ – so shut the website down please – now…(or leave it open with just the words ‘I.O.W. is currently closed for tourism’)…
We’ve not had any statement from bob seely or did I miss it? Where is he? We need action on ferries and getting the idea of lockdown into people’s heads. A lot of people are still not getting it
And the idiot of the year award goes to SHANKLIN DISCOUNT STORE does not sale essentials items only nic nac items, does he not realise what he is doing, god forbid if he catches the virus takes it home and one of his family fall ill, PRIZED PRAT, hope the police fine him
Depends on the type of hospital appointment, my mother went over to the mainland today for her appointment, no trouble at all and she returns back to the Island on the weekend.
I am appalled and of course concerned that folk from the mainland are still travelling over here to the island on their holidays!!. Its not as though there are any attractions or places to visit that are left open. They may risk the wellbeing, unbeknowingly, of islanders many of which are elderly. Why can’t we have a total lock down with services only for freight and essentials. The ferry companies must take some responsibility in identifying reasons for travel. It is of course what the government are asking for – stay at home!!!
Ones upon a time they had heat guns to the head ! Now it’s time they’re using them to keep people out ! No good letting anyone in if there not tested !