Boris Johnson Tells All Bars And Restaurants To Close Tonight

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told all bars and restaurants to close 'tonight, as soon as they reasonably can'.

In his daily coronavirus briefing, he said: "We are telling cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants to close tonight as soon as they reasonably can and not reopen tomorrow."

The same rule will also apply to theatres, gyms, cinemas and leisure centres, Johnson explained, adding: "We need now to push down further on that curve of transmission."

Johnson said that venues can still continue to provide 'takeout services', and that the new measures on closures will be reviewed on a monthly basis.

Addressing the general public, Johnson said: "We want you to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives."

PA

He also pledged to businesses that the government is doing everything it can within its power, and that it would 'stand by' them.

Responding to a question from the press, Johnson said the government was implementing the stricter measures so that people would comply to advice issued earlier in the week, when he asked people to avoid social venues - which is something not something everyone has followed through in.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this morning on TalkRadio: "If you stay at home, you are saving lives. I know, of course, this is a more dangerous disease for older people but not exclusively, some young people get it too."

Hancock said that people should still be able to go shopping for essentials, saying the measures would be used in extreme circumstances, where people are obviously disregarding the government's advice.

He added: "In the emergency Bill that's in front of Parliament right now, we are taking the powers to be able to enforce these measures, so we can make it happen by law if we need to.

"I'd rather not do that and the evidence so far is that the vast majority of people are following the advice, are doing what is sensible and right."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had warned in yesterday's briefing that the government would take more steps to enforce social distancing if it needed to.

He said: "We're absolutely emphatic about people avoiding social gatherings, and if we do need to more around that, we will."

Johnson also stated he hopes to 'turn the tide' of coronavirus within 12 weeks, saying: "I am absolutely confident we can turn the tide within the next 12 weeks."

He added that he believes we can 'send the virus packing'.

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

@Jess_Hardiman