Boris Johnson tells cafes, bars and restaurants to close – but takeaway still allowed Post Reply

[Community Editor]

Cafes, pubs and restaurants must close from Friday night, except for take-away food, to tackle coronavirus, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. Shops will remain open though.

All the UK's nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres have also been asked to close "as soon as they reasonably can".

Mr Johnson said the situation will be reviewed each month.

The chancellor has said the government will pay 80% of wages for employees who are not working, up to £2,500 a month.

Speaking at a daily Downing Street press briefing, Mr Johnson said the measures would be enforced "strictly" and that licensing arrangements will make doing so "relatively simple".

He urged people not to go out on Friday night, stressing: "For now, at least physically, we need to keep people apart."

The prime minister added: "The more effectively we follow the advice we are given, the faster this country will stage both a medical and an economic recovery in full."

Speaking at the same briefing, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the new measures to help employees out of work were "unprecedented".

He appealed to employers to stand by their workers during the coronavirus crisis, in the take of many firms warning of collapse.



Photo credit: PA

[Luvnyrick]

Maybe Boris should of done what all the other countries have  done put us in lockdown we wouldn't be in this situation now he's closed everything else but what about telling the greedy food grabbers that's gatherings I would of thought.people are still out and about walking close to each other he's done this all wrong !!

[Luvnyrick]

Maybe Boris should have done the same has the other countries put us in lockdown we wouldn't be in this situation now he should take a look at the Crouds outside the supermarkets hundreds that's gatherings but he's done nothing about that.people are still walking about in groups so nothing gained.he's done this all wrong !!

[wannabeMaryBerry]

Boris Johnson has advised pubs and cafes to close, not forced them. These companies cannot claim on their insurance if only advised to close, thus many are remaining open. This government inaction is going to cost lives. 

[Nme123]

Boris has done the lockdown in less distributive steps, rather than in a fully draconian way. This is much better and allows us all to get things done with time to plan ahead. They have done enough to avert an Italy style disaster and in a couple of weeks we will see the benefits of our early actions.
Not everyone will be happy about lockdown but it’s for our own good. Many Shops are still open which is far more freedom than most other countries have imposed.
We have a strong economic stimulus package and are seeing low levels of fatalities so far.
Thanks Boris for getting us thru this relatively well.

[wannabeMaryBerry]

I hope you are right, but the given the many people going out and the unclear advise and u turns on policy compared to a country like Germany I worry you are very wrong.