Kate Ferdinand led a host of stars in reaction to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s strict new lockdown rules on Monday evening, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
After the PM’s speech, during which he ordered the immediate closure of all non-essential shops and threatened Britons with fines or even arrest if they do not ‘stay at home’, Kate, 28, alluded to a moment of ‘clarity’ amid all of the recent chaos.
Taking to Instagram, the former TOWIE star, who is married to football pundit Rio Ferdinand, shared a post which read: ‘When everything is uncertain everything that is important becomes clear.’
Reaction: Kate Ferdinand led a host of stars in reaction to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s strict new lockdown rules on Monday evening, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
Captioning the image, she wrote: ‘Isn’t that the truth…’ adding a heart emoji and a pair of prayer hands.
Her post came as Johnson announced that gatherings of more than two people will be banned in the most dramatic curbs on freedom ever seen in Britain in time of peace or war, as the government goes all out to stop the spread of the killer disease.
In a grim address from Downing Street, he said family reunions, weddings, baptisms and other social events must be cancelled to stop the NHS collapsing under the strain. Funerals can go ahead attended by just a handful of closest relatives.
Motivational message: Actress Emily Atack, 30, opted to share a motivational message with her followers in reaction, as she uploaded a snapshot of herself holding up a wine glass
People must only leave their homes for essential supplies, medical help, or to travel to work if it is ‘absolutely’ unavoidable. Going out for exercise will be allowed once a day, but parks will be patrolled to make sure there is no abuse of the rules.
Actress Emily Atack, 30, opted to share a motivational message with her followers in reaction, as she uploaded a snapshot of herself holding up a wine glass, alongside the caption: ‘To those going it alone- WE CAN DO IT!!! Cheers to you.’
Meanwhile, Love Island host Whitmore and her boyfriend Iain Stirling, who narrates the hit dating series, showed they were taking quite the comedic approach to the prospect of being largely confined to their homes for at least three weeks.
The Irish beauty shared a video of herself and her beau dancing as their heads were presented in larger-than-life form atop their much smaller bodies.
Lockdown: Boris Johnson plunged the UK into coronavirus lockdown on Monday – ordering the closure of all shops selling non-essential goods as well as playgrounds and churches
Moment of clarity: Kate Ferdinand alluded to a moment of ‘clarity’ amid all of the recent chaos
Alluding to the idea that they’d be having a considerable amount of time on their hands in the immediate future, Laura wrote: ‘We’re just going to end up doing more of these so I’d like to apologise in advance.’
She also took to her Instagram Stories, where she shared footage of her comedian partner Iain styling her flaxen tresses with a curling iron.
Love Island 2017 star Montana Brown, 24, kept her contribution to the national conversation simple, uploading a glam selfie captioned: ‘Quarantine mood.’
Erstwhile Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner took the opportunity to plug yoga gear, as she commented on the day’s events via a sponsored post.
Dancing: Love Island host Laura Whitmore shared a video of herself and boyfriend Iain Stirling dancing as their heads were presented in larger-than-life form atop their much smaller bodies
Alongside a snap of herself posing in a skintight violet two-piece, she wrote: ‘what a week it’s been for everyone, each in our own way. Let’s love and support and be kind to each other in everyway we can.’
She then added: ‘wearing @alo this is my favourite colour ever, it’s new and perfect for home #isolation #ad.’ [sic]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that police will have powers to fine those who do not fall into line, and disperse any public gatherings.
He said his message to he public was simple: ‘You must stay at home.’
The premier was finally forced into the draconian move amid fury that many people are still flouting ‘social distancing’ guidance, with parks and Tube trains in London – regarded as the engine of the UK outbreak – still busy despite repeated pleas.
‘Though huge numbers are complying – and I thank you all – the time has now come for us all to do more,’ Johnson said.
‘From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.’
The government’s Cobra emergency committee met at 5pm and signed off the extraordinary new restrictions – similar to those which have already been imposed across the rest of Europe.
They will last for three weeks initially – but the government’s own experts have suggested the situation could take up to a year to resolve.
Plug: Erstwhile Made In Chelsea star Kimberley Garner took the opportunity to plug yoga gear, as she commented on the day’s events via a sponsored post
The stringent limits, which came after weeks of mounting pressure for the PM to escalate the response, were welcomed across the political spectrum – in itself a sign of the unprecedented times the country is enduring. However, police officers cautioned that their task would be ‘challenging’.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the rules on who was allowed to travel to work was too loose, suggesting construction employees might feel they were not covered by the ban.
In his historic speech, delivered from behind a desk in Downing Street, Johnson spelled out the reasons people could go outside.
And he added: ‘That’s all – these are the only reasons you should leave your home. You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.
Say what you see: Love Island 2017 star Montana Brown, 24, kept her contribution to the national conversation simple, uploading a glam selfie captioned, ‘Quarantine mood’
‘You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine — and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.
‘If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.’
Underlining the soul-searching that had gone into the announcement, Mr Johnson said: ‘No Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this.
‘I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people’s lives, to their businesses and to their jobs. And that’s why we have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business.
‘And I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review. We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to.
‘But at present there are just no easy options. The way ahead is hard, and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost. And yet it is also true that there is a clear way through.’
He added: ‘I know that as they have in the past so many times. The people of this country will rise to that challenge. And we will come through it stronger than ever. We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together.’
Schools ordered to close for up to six months on Friday have reopened to care for children whose parents’ work is ‘critical’ to the fight against coronavirus, which has killed 281 in the UK so far.