The Government has declared coronavirus a “serious and imminent threat to public health” as it introduced new powers to deal with the spread of the virus. Under new measures announced on Monday, the Department of Health said people with coronavirus can now be forcibly quarantined and will not be free to leave, and can be forcibly sent into isolation if they pose a threat to public health. A spokesman said: “Our infection control procedures are world leading and the NHS is well prepared to deal with novel coronavirus. “We are strengthening our regulations so we can keep individuals in supported isolation for their own safety and if public health professionals consider they may be at risk of spreading the virus to other members of the public''.