THE GOVERNMENT is hammering out a plan to make 30,000 extra beds available across the NHS for the expected peak in cases over the coming weeks.

Beds are to be bought from private hospitals, non-urgent operations cancelled and beds at community hospitals pressed into service to make sure those laid low by the respiratory virus are cared for.

And as confirmed cases of coronavirus escalated to 1,950 in the UK and 60 deaths yesterday, vulnerable and elderly people were being asked to ‘largely avoid social contact for around 12 weeks’.

Meanwhile on the advice of the Government and its scientific advisors, gatherings and events were being cancelled.

Health secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons on Monday that the pandemic was ‘the most serious public health emergency that our nation has faced for a generation’.

‘We need people to start working from home if they possibly can. We should steer clear of pubs, clubs, cinemas and restaurants. We should only use the NHS when we really need to,’ he said. ‘Our goal is to protect life.’

‘Our actions have meant that the spread of the virus has been slowed in the UK and I pay tribute to the officials at Public Health England and the NHS for their exemplary approach to contact tracing and their work so far.’

He said however, that as the death toll climbed higher than 50, ‘our policy is to fight this virus with everything we’ve got’.

He said that by the weekend ‘we will need to go even further to ensure that those with the most serious health conditions are largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks’.

‘We want to ensure that this period of maximum shielding coincides with the peak of maximum transmission.

‘And while the risks of transmission at mass gatherings such as sporting events are relatively low, from tomorrow we will be withdrawing our support for mass gatherings.

‘This will free up critical workers we need to deal with the emergency and ensure a consistent approach to social contact. Second, we are increasing our testing capabilities yet further.’

He said that the capacity for coronavirus testing increases from 5,000 to 10,000 tests a day.

The Government is also calling on manufacturers of ventilation equipment to manufacture further equipment to help victims of the respiratory killer. And a Coronavirus Emergency Bill is being introduced in the Commons to give the Government ‘the powers to keep essential services running at a time when large parts of the workforce may be off sick.’

On the ground in West Devon people were being advised to work from home if at all possible and consult their doctor using eConsult on surgery websites in the first instance.

A spokesperson for Tavyside Health Centre in Tavistock said: ‘The latest advice from Public Health England and NHS England is for all GP practices to push towards digital methods only during the outbreak of COVID-19.

‘We are now advising patients not to attend the practice unless they have an appointment and to instead contact the practice via telephone or by using eConsult.

‘The clinicians will now be contacting all patients via telephone first and if they need to assess you in person, will offer you an on the day appointment.’

Meanwhile those with a new continuous cough and a high temperature — hallmarks of coronavirus ­— were being told to stay at home for seven days ‘however mild the symptoms’.

After seven days, if symptoms are no better then they should contact the doctor.

And the authorities were reiterating advice to wash hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or where other people are doing so.

People were being advised to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue, or their sleeve (not hands) when without a tissue, and throw the tissue away immediately. Then wash their hands or use a hand sanitising gel.

As isolation was being imposed on many, communities banded together to make their self-isolation pleasanter, with shopping deliveries and phone calls.