THE Government has set out new rules in order to tackle the growth of Covid-19.

Boris Johnson set out the need for "drastic action" to tackle the "fast growth" of coronavirus.

New guidelines set out that people should be working from home where possible, and avoiding 'unnecessary' social contact.

The new measures come as it is announced a total of 53 people in the UK have now died

The Prime Minister said that according to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) "it looks as though we are now approaching the fast growth part of the upward curve" in the number of cases.

"Without drastic action cases could double every five or six days," he said.

Mr Johnson said London appeared to be "a few weeks ahead" of other areas and urged people in the capital to pay special attention to the measures - including home working - suggested by the Government.

READ MORE: Somerset man dies after testing positive for coronavirus

Mr Johnson said "if you or anyone in your household" had one of the two symptoms - a high temperature or continuous cough - "you should stay at home for 14 days".

"That means that if possible you should not go out, even to buy food or essentials, other than for exercise and in that case at a safe distance from others," he said.

In a dramatic escalation of the Government's response, Mr Johnson said that even those without symptoms needed to take extra action.

"Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel," he said.

From Tuesday the Government will no longer be supporting mass gatherings with emergency workers.

Mass gatherings are something "we are now moving emphatically away from", he said.

The Prime Minister said people should start working from home "where they possibly can".

"You should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues," he said.

Mr Johnson said by the weekend, groups particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 will be asked to stay at home for 12 weeks.

He said: "In a few days time, by this coming weekend it will be necessary to go further and to ensure that those with the most serious health conditions are largely shielded from social contact for around 12-weeks.

"Again, the reason for doing this in the next few days rather than earlier or later is that this is going to be very disruptive for people who have such conditions.

"This advice about avoiding all social contact is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions."

Chief medical officer for England professor Chris Whitty said measures to tackle the spread of the disease would need to be in place for a "prolonged period".

He said experts had examined the proposals - looking at mathematical models and behavioural sciences - to find the measures which were the most effective but were also sustainable.

"This is going to go on for some time," he said. "We should not be under any illusions that 'if we just do this for a couple of weeks that is sufficient'.

"This is going to have to be a prolonged period."

The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the latest measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 would have a "big effect".

"This is not a series of small interventions. You would anticipate that this could have a dramatic effect to reduce the peak and to reduce death rates," he said.

"They are not easy but they are important and they will have the effect if we all do it.

"This is a matter for us to take accountability to make sure we help each other, protect ourselves and protect the NHS."