Prime minister Boris Johnson says 'common sense is single greatest weapon' in war against coronavirus in live address to the nation

In a televised broadcast to the nation, Mr Johnson insisted common sense was the ‘single greatest weapon’ in the effort to suppress coronavirus.

Setting out a host of new measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19, the PM admitted the disease had ‘started to spread again in an exponential way’.

And in a stark warning to the nation, the Mr Johnson said that ‘many more deaths’ would happen if action was not taken now to tackle ‘freedom-loving’ Britons who helped the virus return.

Describing the disease as ‘the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime’, Mr Johnson said: ‘While the vast majority have complied with the rules, there have been too many breaches – too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected.

‘The virus has stated to spread again in an exponential way. Infections are up, hospital admissions are climbing.’

The PM’s plea to the nation came after the government announced fresh enforcement measures to clampdown on the ‘minority’ of Brits who ‘continue to flout the rules’.

Businesses will face £10,000 fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules, and people risk £200 penalties for failing to wear masks or breaching the ‘rule of six’.

The military could be used to free up police officers to tackle coronavirus rulebreakers.

Mr Johnson said he was ‘deeply, spiritually reluctant’ to infringe on people’s freedoms, but unless action was taken now there would be a need for harsher measures later ‘when the deaths have already mounted’.

If people do not follow the new rules we have set out, ‘we must reserve the right to go further’, he warned.

But Mr Johnson finished his televised address with a plea for a ‘spirit of togetherness’, to get the country though the months ahead.

‘If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together’ he said. ‘There are unquestionably difficult months to come.

‘And the fight against Covid is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead.’

Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP, criticised the government’s handling of the pandemic and said the new actions by the government ‘must make a difference’.

Mr Morgan, who is Labour’s shadow armed forces minister, added: ‘Here in Portsmouth we have all played our part by working together in fighting this virus through largely following government guidelines. But we can’t be complacent.

‘Whilst infection levels have remained relatively low compared to the rest of the country, we have seen a rise in the last few weeks.

‘With the concerns over recent handling of the pandemic and real challenges with the testing strategy, Government’s new measures must make a difference and save lives.’

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt added: ‘I know how fed up people are and want things to return to normal. They will. We will get through this and we will defeat the virus.

‘For now it is only by working together that we can protect vulnerable people and keep our economy as open as possible.’