More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The Prime Minister put the country in lockdown last night and if people are caught out without a good reason, they could face a fine.
Boris Johnson said from last night people must say home. People are only allowed out to go out for four reasons, shopping, exercise together with their family, to get medical care and travel to work. All gatherings of more than two people will be stopped as will weddings.
He said: "It's a very simple instruction you must stay at home.
"If people do not follow the rules, police will have powers to fine people to ensure compliance."
Across the UK, 6,650 people have now tested positive for coronavirus and the number of deaths has reached 335.
Follow our live blog for today's coronavirus updates:
8.30pm
A children's charity says it is re-looking at how it manages its income after many of its fundraising events were postponed or cancelled amid the crisis.
Demelza Hospice Care for Children, which provides specialist care for youngsters with terminal conditions in hospices in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, and Eltham and in family homes across East Sussex, says whilst the provision of care is the priority, ongoing funding is a major issue.
7.50pm
Parking wardens are being taken off the streets to answer helpline calls in the wake of the coronavirus.
The move has been made by Ashford Borough Council and comes after a row erupted when two officials were observed at work in Tenterden on Saturday.
6.40pm
The county's biggest shopping centre has taken the decision to "largely close", with only essential shops remaining open.
Bluewater issued an announcement on its Facebook page earlier, telling customers which shops would stay open at the centre, in Greenhithe, during the coronavirus pandemic.
4.50pm
The government has today announced a temporary hospital to combat the increasing spread of coronavirus across the nation.
The hospital will be called NHS Nightingale and will be based at the Excel Centre in London.
4.11pm - Coronavirus deaths
The Department of Health and Social Care have said sadly 422 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have now died.
2.53pm - advice for Brits stuck abroad
The UK government is currently working to repatriate hundreds of thousands of people who are stranded away from home due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
People from Kent and across the country are desperately trying to return to Britain as airlines cancel flights and countries close borders in efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Read more.
2.41pm - Matt Hancock has been speaking in the commons
The secretary of state for health and social care said: "There is a programme of work and support for the most vulnerable, support because they are staying at home, especially for those who are victims of domestic violence.
"Sports kits are not essential so we will be closing Sports Direct and other similar shops.
"We are ramping up testing as fast as we can, including buying millions of tests."
He also said there is now a hotline for people to ring if they need work in the social care industry and need protective equipment.
2.35pm - special times for elderly and key workers
Despite shoppers being urged to refrain from panic-buying, thousands of consumers in Kent have continued to stock up their supplies and leave shelves barren.
It has resulted in supermarket chains introducing dedicated shopping hours for specific groups, and enforcing restrictions on the number of products that each person can buy. Find out what your local store is doing here.
1.55pm - Paul Scally wants help from the Premier league
The owner of Gillingham Football Club has suggested Premier League clubs could help finance the survival of those below.
1.46pm - Tracey Crouch donates salary to charity
An MP is to donate the majority of her salary to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tracey Crouch, who represents Chatham and Aylesford at Westminster, says she has received numerous heartbreaking messages from constituents who are being impacted by the crisis which has now seen the country ordered into lockdown. Read more here.
1.36pm - binmen could strike
Medway rubbish collectors and street cleaners have threatened an all-out strike over coronavirus issues.
Members of Unite, the public services union which works for council contractors Medway Norse, have voted unanimously for industrial action. Read more here.
1.28pm - stocked supermarkets in Italy
A woman from Kent living in Italy is urging people to "think twice" about hoarding by sharing photos of full shelves despite "extreme lockdown" in the country.
Victoria Heward, from Faversham, lives in Genoa and says despite Italy being the European epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, residents are not panic buying. Read more here.
12.36pm - Olympic news
The Olympics is going to be taking place next year. The president of the IOC and Prime Minister of Japan have had a video conference and agreed it would be impossible to hold it this year.
11.06am - school hubs to be set up
About 50 school 'hubs' are set to open in Kent during the Easter holidays for the children of key workers.
Plans are being drawn up for centralised sites across the county to look after vulnerable pupils and those with a parent in a critical job. Read more here.
10.56am - football support
A dedicated Dover Athletic fan has set up a GoFundMe page to help support the club during the coronavirus pandemic.
Aylesham man Jamie Parsons has lent a helping hand to Whites who will be without a football match until at least April 3, bringing a stop to crucial match-day income. Read more here.
10.52am - advice from UCAS
10.43am - 27 million people tuned in for Boris Johnson's announcement last night...
... in which he put the country on lockdown.
10.42am - brighten up the world
An army of rainbows are taking over windows in Kent in a bid to spread happiness and joy.
Homes have donned the handmade creations coloured in by children so other youngsters can spot them while out stretching their legs amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more here.
10.20am - emergency text
For the first time, every mobile phone in the country will recieve a text message saying "new rules in force now: you must stay at home". Ministers made the request to mobile phone operators last night.
10.01am - supermarket rules
Waitrose is liming customer numbers and marshalling queues outside shops in a bid to help tackle the spread of coronavirus.
The supermarket chain, which has stores across Kent, has today announced a raft of new measures which will "dramatically change how people shop" in response to the government's plea for "social distancing". Read more here.
9.49am - all the Disney films you could ever ask for
Disney's much anticipated new streaming service launches today and is offering a free seven day trial.
The house of mouse is expected to come to the rescue of thousands of families stuck at home as a result of the coronavirus outbreak who are looking for more and more ways to entertain their offspring. Read more here.
9.23am - Maidstone market u-turn
A market, which had hoped to stay open, to help with the supply of fresh produce, has closed as the nation went into coronavirus lockdown.
Maidstone council announced yesterday afternoon that the Tuesday and Saturday markets in Lockmeadow, in Maidstone, would continue as usual. Read more here.
9.16am - recycling centres closed
Recycling centres in Kent have been shut following the government's latest announcement on tackling the coronavirus outbreak last night. Read more here.
9.14am - shops closed
The Government has clarified which businesses can stay open during the UK-wide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus. The full list can be found here.
9am - one park open, another closes
Car parks at Kent's nine county parks will be closed.
Yesterday, Kent Conty Council confirmed it will be keeping the parks open despite concerns they could lead to coronavirus spreading. But now the UK has been put on lockdown, the council has agreed to shut the car parks. Read more here.
8.22am - Easter bunny deliveries
Teachers from a dance school have visited some of their self-isolating pupils dressed as the Easter bunny.
The group from The Street Academy of Dance had bought 120 chocolate eggs in preparation for a disco on April 8, which has now been cancelled.
8.05am - golf courses close following lockdown
All of Kent's main golf clubs had remained open until yesterday. But the national lockdown has forced the closure. Read more here.
7.30am - mental health support
People receiving mental health services from the NHS and charities will still be supported as the system adapts to the coronavirus pandemic.
The NHS in Kent and Medway has told patients who are currently using services that they will be updated on any changes and that they should speak to the person dealing with their care if they have concerns. Read more here.
7.16am - sport off
As the arguments over the Olympics rage on, decisions on local sporting competitions have all ready been made. Find out what plans have been put in place here.
7.09am - Sports Direct
Bosses have told staff at Sports Direct they must keep working as they are a vital to the health of the nation.
In a letter, Mike Ashley's Frasers Froup suggested the company's outlets are essential to in the fight against Covid-19.
