Coronavirus: Government denies travel within London or out of capital will be 'locked down'

Downing Street has ruled out a Paris-style lockdown on travel and leaving the house in London in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

And a spokesman for Boris Johnson insisted that there were no plans to put troops on the streets to maintain public order.

However, No 10 did not rule out tighter restrictions forcing bars and restaurants to close, amid widespread reports of individuals flouting advice to avoid social contact.

It comes as the prime minister holds talks with Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, amid widespread speculation stricter restrictions could be enforced to combat the spread of Covid-19.

Number 10 called for “responsible” reporting of the measures being taken to limit the spread of Covid-19, after stories suggested that draconian steps were under consideration, like a limit of one person per household allowed out of the property.

This was “not true”, said the prime minister’s spokesman.

And he told a daily Westminster media briefing: “There are no plans to close down the transport network in London and there is zero prospect of any restriction being placed on travelling in or out of London.”

We we live in a land of liberty, as you know, and one of the great features of our lives is that we don't tend to impose those sorts of restrictions on people in this country, but I have to tell you we will rule nothing out and we will certainly wish to consider bringing forward further and faster measures where that is necessary to suppress the peak of the epidemic, to protect our NHS to minimise casualties and to minimise suffering, and that is our objective.

The PM’s spokesman confirmed troops were on standby to assist with tasks like driving oxygen tankers for the health service.

But he said: “Maintenance of public order is the responsibility of the police and there are no plans to use military personnel to keep order during the coronavirus epidemic.”

The spokesman repeated calls for people to observe social distancing measures but declined to say whether the PM believed the public was doing enough.

“The PM and his advisers have set out the need for social distancing measures to limit the spread of the virus and to protect lives,” said the spokesman.

“What we are focused on is ensuring that as many people as possible take that advice and don’t unnecessarily put themselves in a position where they could be spreading Coronavirus.”

Mr Johnson fuelled expectations of tighter restrictions in London when he declined to rule out a move to mandatory shutdowns at his daily press conference on Wednesday.

Asked whether bars and restaurants might be forced to lock their doors, the PM said: "We live in a land of liberty and one of the great features of our lives is that we don't tend to impose those sorts of restrictions on people in this country, but I have to tell you we will rule nothing out and we will certainly wish to consider bringing forward further and faster measures where that is necessary to suppress the peak of the epidemic, to protect our NHS, to minimise casualties and to minimise suffering."