Coronavirus: UK Government Closes Down All Pubs And Restaurants, And Will Pay Employees Not Going To Work Upto Sh310,000 Monthly Salary

Boris Johnson has ordered cafes, pubs, bars, restaurants and gyms to close from tonight in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The prime minister also said clubs, leisure centres and theatres should also close their doors

During his daily news conference he acknowledged that people may be tempted to go out on Friday night but urged people to stay at home.

“You’re sacrifice [by social distancing and self-isolation] means we are putting the country in a better and stronger position and we will be able to save thousands of lives,” said Mr Johnson.

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the government would step in to pay people’s wages, with grants that will cover 80% of the salaries of retained workers – up to £2,500 a month.

He urged businesses to look at government support before laying off workers.

It comes after the total number of people who have died in the UK after contracting COVID-19 rose to 177 after England saw 39 more deaths – the biggest rise in a day.

There were 3,269 confirmed cases in the UK recorded by Thursday evening – that figure will be updated later today.

During Thursday’s press conference, Mr Johnson said the UK “can turn the tide” against coronavirus in the next 12 weeks – but subsequently admitted the government “don’t know how long” the crisis will last for.

He also revealed the government is in talks to buy “hundreds of thousands” of tests to reveal if people are immune.

Scientists have advised that social measures will need to be in place for most of a year in order to control the spread of the virus, which has infected nearly 250,000 people worldwide.

More than 10,000 people have died around the world after contracting the virus.

Sky News