Boris Johnson ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants to shut down tonight in a dramatic lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The Prime Minister told a press conference today that social premises that also include theatres, cinemas, gyms and sports centres must close ‘as soon as they reasonably can and not to reopen tomorrow’.
It came amid fury at revellers mainly in London flouting pleas to stay at home, as the coronavirus death toll continues to climb to 177, with 40 more deaths today.
A sombre-looking PM said that measures outlined on Monday for people to voluntarily self-isolate now had to go further as he ordered premises to close their doors for an initial 14 days, after which it will be reviewed.
‘I know it has been difficult … but these actions we are taking together are helping to take the strain off the NHS,’ he said.
‘The speed of our eventual recovery depends entirely on our collective ability to get on top of the virus now and that means we have to take the next steps on scientific advice.
‘And following our plan we are strengthening the measures announced on Monday. We need now to push down further on that curve of transmission between us.
‘And so following agreement with all the … devolved administrations, we are collectively telling cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants to close tonight as soon as they reasonably can and not to open tomorrow.
‘We’re also telling nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres to close on the same timescale.’
Restaurants will be allowed to operate as take-aways, he added.
London and its nine-million population is ahead of the curve on coronavirus infections, according to scientists, but social media has been awash with pictures showing bars bursting at the seams with people seemingly indifferent to the risk in the capital.
Experts warned today that Boris Johnson‘s coronavirus plan could fail and leave the NHS on the brink unless at least half the public obey self-isolation and ‘social distancing’ rules.
A swathe of newly-released evidence presented to ministers suggests that the fate of the PM’s plan rests on convincing enough people to fall into line.
It came as:
- Mr Khan hit out at people who continue to go to pubs and use public transport, warning he will ‘infringe’ their human rights if necessary
- The London mayor and TfL were branded a ‘bunch of useless idiots’ for slashing Tube services to try to stem the spiralling coronavirus crisis – which forced coughing commuters to cram on to the Underground
- The UK death toll increased by 40 to 177, its largest daily spike to date
- The first Briton – a man on the Isle of Man, was arrested for refusing to self-isolate while suspected of having the virus.
- In the US, New York governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential workers to stay home now in the most drastic step he has taken in the battle against coronavirus, telling city citizens: ‘We are all in quarantine now.’
This afternoon, Mr Johnson told the daily live broadcast from Downing Street: ‘You may be tempted to go out tonight and I say to you please don’t, you may think that you are invincible – but there is no guarantee that you will get it.
‘But you can still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on.’
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: ‘We welcome Boris Johnson’s decision to shut pubs, restaurants & other venues.
‘We have been increasingly concerned that the social distancing measures needed were not being followed which is why we called for this earlier. We all have to adjust our behaviour to defeat this virus.’
Meanwhile there was widespread furious criticism of Tim Martin, the multi-millionaire Wetherspoon boss, for saying he intended to keeping his chain open, downplaying the risks to health.
No No10 sources cautioned that a final decision on compulsory shutdowns has not been taken, saying ‘we’re not there just yet’.
But they did not rule out an announcement at the Prime Minister’s daily press conference tonight. London Mayor Sadiq Khan is also understood to be expecting a significant move this evening, but has not been given details yet.
It came after Mr Johnson was earlier slammed for ‘sending confusing messages which cost lives’.
He has for days urged people to stay away from pubs – but No 10 this morning failed to criticise the Wetherspoon chairman for refusing to close his bars during the coronavirus crisis.
The Conservative Party donor and boozer chain figurehead sparked fury this morning as he said closing pubs was ‘over the top’ despite warnings from the government’s chief scientific adviser that bars are a breeding ground for the deadly virus.
Mr Martin told the BBC that a ‘sensible balance’ was for pubs to implement ‘social distancing’ measures, like no standing at the bar, using cards and sitting at separate tables.
He sparked further outrage as he told Sky that ‘supermarkets posed more of a danger than pubs’.
In response to Mr Martin’s comments, the Prime Minister’s deputy official spokesman simply said the government has, ‘been clear about the importance of social distancing’.
Asked if he was nervous about criticising political supporters of Boris Johnson, the spokesman said: ‘We’ve based all our decisions on the best scientific evidence and we will continue to do so.’
The PM this week was met with anger from the hospitality industry as he told people not to visit pubs, clubs and cafes – but stopped short of closing them, meaning venues are losing footfall and cannot claim insurance.
Meanwhile, foolhardy revellers continue to flock to pubs and clubs across the country as they ignore calls urging social distancing to prevent the spread of the disease.
Mr Martin told Sky: ‘Supermarkets are very, very crowded. Pubs are much less crowded. There’s hardly been any transmission of the virus within pubs and I think it’s over the top to shut them.
‘That’s a commercial view but also a common sense view.’
Startling new data released on Wednesday night shows 29 percent of the first 2,500 cases of coronavirus in America were people between the ages of 20 and 44.
Of that number, 20 percent were hospitalised and 12 percent put in intensive care units. Some 55 percent of the cases were all under the age of 65.
Social media users have criticised Mr Martin’s ‘grossly irresponsible’ stance and for ‘putting money before health’.
The hashtag, ‘#BoycottWetherspoons’ is now trending on Twitter.
Many have urged him to use his platform in the same way as celebrities including Kylie Jenner, who has encouraged youngsters to stay at home.
Labour MP David Lammy tweeted: ‘Yesterday the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser said ‘mixing in pubs and restaurants needs to stop’.
Today the government is refusing to condemn Weatherspoon’s owner Tim Martin for suggesting the opposite. Confusing messages will cost lives. Pubs and restaurants must close.’
Mr Martin today said falling sales at the chain have dropped further after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told punters to stay at home and not visit Britain’s pubs.
The pub chain said that sales, which had risen by 3.2% in the previous six weeks, started falling by 4.5% in the week ending March 15, as the coronavirus pandemic scared customers off.
The decline picked up even further when the Prime Minister told people that it was vital they do not visit pubs in order to slow the spread of the highly infectious disease.
But despite warnings from the government’s chief scientific adviser urging young people to stop going to the pub, he refused to close his bars, sparking anger among many.
He told Sky: ‘Our aim is for pubs open for the duration. This could go on for a long time. I think that once you shut them down it’s very difficult.’
Asked about Mr Martin’s decision to keep his pubs open, the Prime Minister’s deputy official spokesman said: ‘We have been clear throughout that every decision that has been made, and will be made, has been made based on the best scientific advice.
‘That will continue – we have heard the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser talk about social distancing and we will continue to act on scientific advice.
‘We have been clear about the need for social distancing. We have asked the public to do what they have to do, and we have been clear on the reasons for doing that.’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said ‘liberties and human rights need to be changed, curtailed, infringed’ in order to protect people and prevent further coronavirus deaths.
He threatened to ban people from going to the pub and cafés in his stark address to the London Assembly last night.
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer, meanwhile, has warned young adults they will not ‘breeze through’ coronavirus.
Chris Whitty said: ‘It is clear that children get this disease much less strongly than adults, I think the data on that is pretty strong now, and it certainly is the case that the majority of those that end up dying sadly are people who tend to be either in the later part of their lives, usually quite elderly, or those with pre-existing health conditions.
‘But there are also some young people who have ended up in intensive care or who have ended up with severe disease around the world.
‘I think it’s important that we don’t give the impression that every single person who is young and healthy is just going to breeze through this.’
And the government’s chief scientific adviser begged young people to stop going to the pub and claims the UK cannot beat coronavirus if they keep flouting home confinement rules.
Sir Patrick Vallance slammed young people’s complacency and said ‘mixing’ in bars and restaurants ‘needs to stop’ because it is allowing the disease run rampant.
Sir Vallance warned a coronavirus vaccine was still at least six months away and said the only way the outbreak could be delayed until then was if everyone stuck to the Government’s tough new social restrictions.
His plea came after Britons were filmed partying into the early hours in packed pubs and nightclubs around the country this week, defying ministers.
Social media users slammed drinkers pictured last night out and about in Leeds.
Jeremiah Hyde wrote: ‘Shocking isn’t it!? Some London pubs are packed. Dangerous irresponsible idiocy.’
Another, @Etherea68347170, added: ‘People aren’t exercising social distancing, bars are packed! Please Boris, for the love of God… and your people… shut the pubs!’
Will Saville commented: ‘People are so stupid going into pubs, clubs, gyms. So selfish when the NHS are warning people against social contact yet people are quite happy to be packed into one place.’
Credit: Daily Mail
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