According to the Daily Mail, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have released a statement announcing that public worship is “suspended until further notice” amid fears over coronavirus.

In a joint letter, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, John Sentamu and Justin Welby respectively, said it was ‘necessary to put public services on hold’.

“Being a part of the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead,” they wrote.

“Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day.

“We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people. And we can certainly offer practical care and support.

The also urged people to donate to local food banks and other organisations that cater to the less privileged.

Prior to this announcement made by the Bishops, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that people should stop socialising, work from home, avoid travelling and that whole household should stay in isolation if one person becomes ill.