Towns or villages on the Isle of Wight could be locked down as part of the Isle of Wight Council's plan to manage an "extensive" outbreak of coronavirus.
Although he "doesn't think we will have to go there", Isle of Wight Council leader, Councillor Dave Stewart, says measures are being put in place to deal with an outbreak in a particular area.
Councillor Stewart says:
"If for example, in East Cowes, you had a real extensive outbreak, and it's difficult to see how that could actually happen but it could do, then we would ask the community of East Cowes to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus".
He says a plan has to be in place to prepare for any eventuality and "good instruction would be given" if that were to happen.
The proposals form part of the council's Outbreak Management Plan - a Government idea which gives local authorities the power to manage the pandemic at a local level.
"We're describing it as public health interventions. They could be very small. For example, if you have a particular problem in a business or a school then the plan is designed to enable you to freeze problems around that so that the rest of the Island can continue to work."
The Isle of Wight Council is expected to publish more details on its Outbreak Management Plan in "due course".
The news comes on the day that the UK's Chief Medical officer warned that "localised outbreaks are likely to occur".
The Government has lowered its alert level from four to three, as Isle of Wight Radio reported earlier.
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