The RCP has responded to the announcement by the chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance and the chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty.
Professor Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians said:
“The chief medical officer has given us a clear message. All of us need to make sure the NHS doesn’t become overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. If it does, waiting lists for treatment will grow, non-COVID illnesses won’t be discovered and treated early enough, and programmes to prevent people from contracting illnesses will stall.
“It is important for us all to reduce our personal risk by only seeing people we really need to see, and isolating when we have contracted the virus or when we have come in contact with someone who has symptoms.
“Our members and staff across the NHS are doing all they can to keep everyone healthy. We all need to work together to make sure they can continue doing their jobs and saving lives."