British army readied for public order missions.

Plans are in place for the extensive domestic deployment of British army soldiers during the next months—possibly within 20 days, Thomas Scripps reports from an official military source.

The British troops trained in CBRN warfare might be assigned to various urgent tasks demanded by the coronavirus crisis (Picture source: British MoD)

A senior British army source said: “From tomorrow [Monday,16 March] we’ll be working with regional authorities to reassure them we’ll be able to help … We are told this virus will peak in three to five weeks and that will be a critical time for hospitals, prisons, public services and people across communities who will need reassurance that they can still get food and water.”

Troops trained in NBC warfare will deep-clean empty public buildings in the event that they need to be turned into hospitals or morgues. The Royal Army Medical Corps is preparing to build tented field hospitals near care homes and army hospitals will be used to add capacity to the National Health Service (NHS). Soldiers may also be drafted into the three emergency services (police, fire and emergency medical service) to replace workers in isolation or who have fallen ill.