THURROCK has gone into effective lockdown this evening following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's nationwide TV broadcast in which he laid down stringent new rules in a bid to battle coronavirus.

On the day the number of confirmed cases in Thurrock rose from ten to 13, out of a local population of 172,525, more than 6,650 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK, but the actual number of cases is estimated to be much higher.

The number of deaths is now 335, according to the latest figures available.

Basically Mr Johnson has outlined four key things this evening – but much of the detail remains to be filled in. For example people can leave to go to work – but what sort of work has not been specifically defined. And the definition of two people making up the maximum public gathering lacks real clarity.

The brief outline of actions sanctioned this evening is:

• All gatherings of more than two people in public were forbidden – meaning a ban on all social events, including weddings and baptisms
• Tens of thousands of non-essential shops were ordered to close
• Communal play and exercise areas inside parks will also be shut down, but not parks themselves
• Places of worship such as churches and mosques must also shut, except to host for funerals
• And travel on roads, trains and buses is also banned, unless it's essential to get to work.

Anyone breaking the rules will be fined at least £30 - and up to £1,000 if they fail to self-isolate.

However, we fully expect more information will be forthcoming from government and we will keep you informed.

And we also want to know what you are planning to do. What services are being provided to support local people. And how you are all working together as a community, online and in your homes to get through this situation.

Not for decades have local communities required the level of togetherness they need today. The local media has a big role to play, keeping everyone fully informed. We are here for you.

If you have a story to tell, either load it to our website via the Nubit button, email editor [email protected] or call 07885313435. You can also get information out through our Facebook page here.

We are in this together and together we will emerge stronger in a united borough community.