Millions of workers in Britain stayed home today as commuters found car parks empty, train carriages deserted and seats available amid the coronavirus crisis.
It comes after the Prime Minister said people with even mild symptoms, including a continuous cough or high temperature, must stay at home for at least seven days.
Boris Johnson’s guidance was issued yesterday with between 5,000 and 10,000 people in the UK already thought to be infected with Covid-19.
A passenger wears a face mask as he walks through London Bridge Station this morning
London Bridge train station appeared deserted during the Friday morning rush hour at 7.30am
London Bridge station is very quiet this morning as more people start to work from home
Arriving at Manchester Piccadilly train station this morning was project manager Rizwan Atcha, 37, who told MailOnline: ‘I’ve come from Bolton, the train was earie.
‘Normally you can’t get any space but today there was more than usual. I’m assuming that was because of the virus.
‘I have driven to Manchester before but it takes twice as long. In terms of taking the risk I’m ready to meet my maker.’
Meanwhile in the West Midlands, Birmingham New Street train station was busy as usual but passengers spoke of ’emptier trains’ and lots of ‘hand sanitizer’.
Paul Burne, 35, a father of two who works as a sales manager, said he had to reduce his travelling due to coronavirus.
He said: ‘I travel almost every day because of my work and I think trains are as busy as always, I can’t see a massive amount of change.
‘I haven’t seen many people taking any precautions apart from hand sanitizer. I try to be as hygienic as possible. I’m more careful of what I eat and try to keep fit and healthy.
‘I have already reduced my trips as much as I could, but am a bit more reluctant to travel to London due to the congestion so overall I’ve made some slight changes.’
Sophie Pearce, 18, a student, said: ‘I travel every day to go to college so I think I am more at risk – there are so many people on the train and you don’t know who’s washed their hands or not, who’s got it or not.
‘I would certainly not take the train at all and stay home if I could. Trains are busy as always I don’t think people have stopped travelling because of coronavirus’.
Another student, Jasmine Gardener, 18, said: ‘There aren’t many people taking precautions, I’ve only seen a few using hand sanitizer- as soon as someone coughs though, you notice everyone turning around.
‘I use hand sanitizer and wash my hands but I’m not that worried yet. If I could stay at home I would though, just because I get the train every day.’
The Government has now ordered school trips to be stopped and people over 70 with serious medical conditions not to go on cruises.
A cleaner wipes down ticket barriers at a quiet London Bridge train station this morning
Few passengers can be seen walking through London Bridge Station at 7.30am this morning
Tooley Road is almost empty outside London Bridge station this morning, taken at 7.30am
Officials have also warned the advice is likely to develop so that entire households could be told to self-isolate.
The Government said it would not move to close schools yet as the evidence for its effectiveness is lacking, though this will be kept under review.
It is also considering banning large events, mostly due to the burden such events place on public services.
High-profile people to be diagnosed with Covid-19 include Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and BT boss Philip Jansen.
A quiet Manchester Piccadilly station this morning, in a photograph taken at about 8.30am
Manchester Piccadilly train station is quiet at 8.30am this morning as workers stay at home
Railway workers watch on at a quiet Manchester Piccadilly station at 8.30am this morning
Chelsea’s full squad has also gone into self-isolation after winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus.
England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said the peak of the outbreak is most likely still 10 to 14 weeks away.
He said it is feared people will become ‘fatigued’ by more stringent measures if they are brought in too soon and therefore they would lose their maximum effect.
The number of people who have tested positive for the virus in the UK rose to 596 while the death toll in British hospitals is 10.