Asked whether people in authority should obey the rules imposed in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said: ‘In my opinion the rules are clear and they have always been clear. In my opinion they are for the benefit of all. And in my opinion they apply to all.’ Van-Tam emphasised the government would have to make changes slowly and people would have to stick to physical distancing rules to contain the spread of the virus