Photos: UK shuts down social life amid coronavirus

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.

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.

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

"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.

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

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

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.

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

People walk through a sparsely populated Tate Modern in London

General view of a closed cafe near Goodison Park as the Premier League is suspended

A Pret a Manger cafe stands almost empty near Trafalgar Square in London

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

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

A man dressed as St Patrick walks past a closed bar in Dublin city centre

Staff from The Prince Edward, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors

A usually busy M25 motorway near St Albans is seen almost empty

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

Nearly empty supermarket shelves in Ashford, south east England

A couple sit at a restaurant on usually busy street in Clapham, in London

A man wears a mask as he reads on a tube in London

General view of The Winslow Hotel and Goodison Park as the Premier League is suspended

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

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

A man wearing a face mask walks past a closed pub in Dublin city centre

An employee sits down inside an empty gallery inside the Tate Modern in London

A man wears a protective mask as he travels on a bus in Manchester

Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London, inform patrons, as it shuts its doors

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

People wearing face masks walk past a closed pub in Dublin city centre

An unusually quiet financial district in London