SHOPPERS are being urged not to pick up items in supermarkets unless they are purchasing them.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that coronavirus can be passed on by handling something touched by someone who has the virus.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference today, he said: "Please remember that this disease can be passed on not just by standing too near someone in a supermarket queue, but also by handling something touched by an infected person."

He urged people to say at home and "please protect the NHS and save lives" as Tuesday saw the highest admissions ­— 4,134­— to hospital on a single day, the highest at any point in the pandemic.

Mr Johnson said: "As you know, this country is engaged in the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in our history, and the chances are that you know someone personally who has already received a vaccine.

But it would be fatal if this sense of progress were now to breed any kind of complacency because the pressures on our NHS are extraordinary.

"There are now more than 37,000 Covid patients in hospital across the UK and, in spite of all the efforts of our doctors and nurses and our medical staff, we are now seeing cancer treatments sadly postponed, ambulances queuing, and intensive care units spilling over into adjacent wards.

"And with 55,761 positive cases since yesterday and, very sadly, 1,280 deaths, this is not the time for the slightest relaxation of our national resolve and our individual efforts.

From Monday to protect the country from, what the Prime Minister described as "yet unidentified new strains" all travel corridors were being closed

This means that those coming into the country must have proof of a negative covid test, which was taken in the 72 hours before leaving

He said:; "And we will be stepping up our enforcement – both at the border and in-country."