THE MP for Clywd South is urging residents to heed the advice of the government to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

On Monday the government brought in stricter restrictions on movement, with warnings of fines for people travelling without a good reason.

Simon Baynes says that lives are at stake and that he is supportive of police warnings.

"Following the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement that stricter measures will need to be taken to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, I want to urge my constituents in Clwyd South to follow the government advice," said Mr Baynes.

"We are responsible for our own safety and everyone else's safety as well.

"When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the disease.

"Everyone needs to comply with these new measures.

"The police have been given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

"These measures are effective immediately. The government will look again at these measures in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.

"These measures are absolutely necessary because the more people that fall ill, then the harder it is for our NHS to cope, and therefore we must slow the spread of the disease so that fewer people are sick at any one time.

"To put it bluntly, if you go out unnecessarily, you risk lives, and the ability of the NHS to prevent deaths.

"The decision is in your hands, but as the Prime Minister said, our police forces have been empowered to disperse gatherings of more than two people.

"The police will issue fines to anyone who does not comply with these rules; and the police will close all shops that are not essential, as well as playgrounds and places of worship.

"Lives are at stake, and I urge you all to do the right thing and abide by them in order to control this pandemic."