Photos: UK shuts down social life amid coronavirus

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People, some wearing protective face masks, walk through the City of London. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday shut down social life in Britain and ordered the most vulnerable to isolate for 12 weeks, ramping up the battle against a coronavirus outbreak just as it accelerates towards its peak. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Staff from The Sondheim Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors. Britain, which had stood apart from other nations in the relaxed nature of its response to the coronavirus, hardened those measures significantly, urging people to stop going to pubs or restaurants, and putting in place strict quarantine policies for those infected by the virus. Image Credit: AP

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference on the ongoing situation with the coronavirus pandemic with chief medical officer Chris Whitty and Chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance Image Credit: AP

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"Now is the time for everyone to stop nonessential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel," Johnson said in the speech. "We need people to start working from home where they possibly can. And you should avoid pubs, clubs, theaters and other such social venues." | Above: A notice about coronavirus is pictured as pub doors are locked in the Temple Bar area, in Dublin. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Prime Minister Johnson also urged all British citizens to stop "non-essential" travel and contact with other people in an effort to fight the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak. | Above: The Vauxhall plan is seen closed in Luton Image Credit: REUTERS

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The Edinburgh airport is pictured empty amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, in Edinburgh, Scotland Image Credit: REUTERS

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A picture shows the boarded-off Holiday Inn hotel, close to Heathrow Airport, west of London. Britain's Department of Health has block-booked a hotel close to London Heathrow Airport, to use as a quarantine zone for any people entering the country who may have been exposed to the new coronavirus. Image Credit: AFP

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Staff from The Prince of Wales Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors Image Credit: AP

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People walk through a sparsely populated Tate Modern in London Image Credit: REUTERS

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General view of a closed cafe near Goodison Park as the Premier League is suspended Image Credit: Action Images via Reuters

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A Pret a Manger cafe stands almost empty near Trafalgar Square in London Image Credit: REUTERS

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Two people read the closure notice in the window of The Norseman pub, as bars across Ireland close voluntarily to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Dublin Image Credit: REUTERS

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A sparsely-filled carriage on an Underground train in west London as many office staff in the capital opted to work from home Image Credit: AP

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A man dressed as St Patrick walks past a closed bar in Dublin city centre Image Credit: AP

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Staff from The Prince Edward, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors Image Credit: AP

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A usually busy M25 motorway near St Albans is seen almost empty Image Credit: REUTERS

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A sign informing customers that the coffee shop is closed due to coronavirus is seen in Knutsford Image Credit: REUTERS

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Nearly empty supermarket shelves in Ashford, south east England Image Credit: AP

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A couple sit at a restaurant on usually busy street in Clapham, in London Image Credit: REUTERS

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A man wears a mask as he reads on a tube in London Image Credit: AP

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General view of The Winslow Hotel and Goodison Park as the Premier League is suspended Image Credit: Action Images via Reuters

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A picture shows a hand sanitiser station at the entrance to the Bank of England, in London Image Credit: REUTERS

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Tourists with face masks walk around Temple Bar area, as bars across Ireland close voluntarily to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Dublin Image Credit: REUTERS

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A man wearing a face mask walks past a closed pub in Dublin city centre Image Credit: AP

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An employee sits down inside an empty gallery inside the Tate Modern in London Image Credit: REUTERS

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A man wears a protective mask as he travels on a bus in Manchester Image Credit: REUTERS

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Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors Image Credit: AP

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Shoppers wearing masks are faced with partially empty shelves at a supermarket in London, as consumers worry about product shortages, leading to the stockpiling of household products Image Credit: AFP

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People wearing face masks walk past a closed pub in Dublin city centre Image Credit: AP

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An unusually quiet financial district in London Image Credit: NYT

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