E3: UK coronavirus: restaurants, pubs and gyms to close; government to pay 80% of wages of those not working – as it happened
All the day’s developments as UK death toll reaches 177 and government announces new clampdown alongside financial easing. This blog is now closed, please head to the latest global coronavirus liveblog
- Government to pay up to 80% of wages in outbreak
- Johnson announces closure of all UK pubs and restaurants
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That’s all from us for today on the UK side – and what a day it’s been.
What are the symptoms of Covid-19, what treatments are available and how do I protect myself and the people around me from infection?
Our health editor, Sarah Boseley, answers some key questions as coronavirus spreads across the globe in this video explainer.
Following the government’s announcement that pubs, clubs, cinemas and theatres are to close from tonight, the Guardian’s data team have found this will affect some 1.4 million workers across the country.
There are some 39,000 pubs and bars across the UK employing 450,000 between them, all of which will be forced to close their doors from this evening while a further 75,000 people working in 7,600 clubs will be affected.
Torsten Bell, head of the Resolution Foundation think tank, has also found a couple of problems with the chancellor’s plan - including limited support for the self-employed or low paid workers.
Resolution are broadly supportive of Sunak’s announcement, saying:
The Chancellor’s hugely welcome and unprecedented pledge to pay 80 per cent of the wages of employees without work to do in struggling firms is a crucial step change in the government’s economic response to the current crisis
The big gaps that remain in support are for two million low earners that are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay and for the self-employed seeing work dry up because of the crisis, beyond those benefitting from the abolition of the Minimum Income Floor in Universal Credit.
Announcement will make a big difference to:
- struggling firms
- employees at risk of losing their jobs
- those losing their job with more generous welfare
- renters in low income families
Groups less helped:
- self-employed seeing work dry up
- 2m low earners with no sick pay
Labour’s shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has given Rishi Sunak’s announcement a lukewarm response.
He says the chancellor has moved in the right direction, but not “far enough or fast enough”.
My response to the Chancellor's further economic announcements today. pic.twitter.com/CfCk4fUSov
Speaking from Bute House this evening, Nicola Sturgeon has repeated the UK government’s call for restaurants, cafes, pubs, gyms and cinemas across Scotland to close, telling the public that staying at home “will save lives”.
Sturgeon said that people working in the NHS and care services “will be tested like never before”, and also promised “unprecedented” support from the Scottish government for the economy,
We’re asking you to stay away from your grandkids, from the people you love. That’s hard, but it’s so you can stay around to see them grow up.
To children: I know this is a strange time, you’re away from school and won’t be able to spend as much time with friends. The adults around you are probably feeling a bit anxious too. So help them, follow their advice, study and do your homework, but don’t forget to have fun, and wash your hands.
At times of crisis we need each other more, but we are boing told to stay apart, but we can still communicate and offer comfort.
This crisis is reminding us just how fragile our world is but also reminding us what really matters, health, love, solidarity. With compassion and kindness and with the dedication and expertise of our NHS we can and we will get through this.
Fire and rescue service personnel must receive priority testing and vaccination for coronavirus, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said after some brigades reported losing hundreds of staff to self-isolation.
In a letter to ministers, the FBU has said that without testing, firefighters and control staff could be self-isolating unnecessarily, when they could be on hand to protect the public.
Business leaders and unions have both welcomed the government’s new economic emergency plan, as they brace for Britain to slump into a deep recession.
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director-general, believes the coronavirus job retention scheme could be the start of the “economic fightback”.
“This is a landmark package of measures for business, people and jobs. The Chancellor’s offer of substantial payroll support, fast access to cash and tax deferral will support the livelihoods of millions. Firms and employees will respond with relief and determination.
“It marks the start of the UK’s economic fightback - an unparalleled joint effort by enterprise and government to help our country emerge from this crisis with the minimum possible damage. An important day for our country.”
“People concerned about their jobs and livelihoods will feel hugely reassured today that the chancellor has acted swiftly.
The whole country is understandably anxious about the spread of the virus, being unable to see their loved ones or buy the food they need in the shops.
This is a breakthrough. @RishiSunak has shown real leadership. We’re glad he's listened to unions and taken vital steps to support working families. Employers can now be confident they'll be able to pay their wage bills. They must urgently reassure staff that their jobs are safe.
Following Boris Johnson’s press conference, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has asked all restaurants, cafes, pubs and cinemas in Scotland to close.
Speaking in a televised address from Bute House in Edinburgh, she said the number of cases of Covid-19 are set to rise sharply.
The Wetherspoon’s in Leytonstone, east London seemed to be filling up in the moments following the prime minister’s announcement, whereas the nearby Bird pub was not as busy as it normally would be on a Friday evening.
The publicans were not shocked by the news pubs would be closed at the end of the night and felt it was “about time”.
The word ‘unprecedented’ can be bandied about too easily, but tonight’s package from Rishi Sunak absolutely deserves it.
It’s an absolutely gigantic package of stimulus – and the unheard-of step of the UK government paying a large slice of the nation’s pay cheques, to hopefully prevent unemployment on a scale not seen since the great depression.
1/ Getting through this will require a collective national effort, with a role for everyone to play. It’s on all of us.
Our Plan for People’s Jobs and Incomes is a combination of measures unprecedented for a government of this nation. The first part is to protect people’s jobs. pic.twitter.com/FOV427gv6f
2/ For the first time in our history, the British government is going to step in and help pay people’s wages.
Government grants will cover 80% of the salary of retained workers, up to a total of £2,500 a month, that’s above UK median earnings level.
3/ The scheme, open to any employer in the country, will cover the cost of wages backdated to March 1st and will be open before the end of April for at least 3 months.
There's no limit on the funding available for the scheme, we will pay to support as many jobs as needed.
4/ Many businesses are hurting now and I can announce that the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will not be interest-free, as previously planned, for 6 months – it will be for twelve months.
Those loans will now be available on Monday. https://t.co/9blM7svmXw
5/ To help businesses keep people in work, I'm deferring the next quarter of VAT payments.
No business will pay VAT from now to mid June. You'll have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills. That's an over £30bn injection to businesses equivalent to 1.5% of GDP
6/ We are already seeing some job losses. Today I’m increasing the Universal Credit standard allowance, for the next 12 months, by £1,000 a year. I’m increasing the Working Tax Credit basic element by the same amount.
These measures will benefit just over 4 million households.
7/ I’m also strengthening the safety net for self-employed people by suspending the minimum income floor.
That means self-employed people can now access, in full, Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to Statutory Sick Pay for employees.
8/ Taken together, I’m announcing over £6bn of extra support through the welfare system.
And to further support the self-employed through the tax system, I’m announcing today that the next self-assessment payments will be deferred until Jan 2021.
9/ For renters, I’m announcing today nearly £1bn of support by increasing the generosity of housing benefit and Universal Credit, so that the Local Housing Allowance will cover at least 30% of market rents in your area.
10/ We want to look back on this time and remember how, in the face of a generation-defining moment, we undertook a collective national effort - and stood together.
It’s on all of us.
Morrisons is to take on staff from Marie Curie and CLIC Sargent charity shops whose doors may need to close because of the coronavirus.
Morrisons will take on up to 500 colleagues to help the elderly and vulnerable in stores across Great Britain.
They will be working alongside Morrisons’ staff who currently work with local charities and community groups.
More than 375 mosques, community centres and prayer facilities across the UK remained closed for Friday prayers today after the Muslim Council of Britain called for the suspension of congregational activities earlier this week.
They included some of the biggest mosques in Britain, including East London Mosque, which holds 7,000 worshippers, London Central Mosque which can accommodate more than 5,000 people, and Birmingham Central Mosque which regularly hosts over 2,500 people on Fridays.
It’s reassuring so many mosques and prayer facilities have heeded this advice in trying their best to minimise the spread of the coronavirus.
We all have an Islamic and public duty to protect one another from harm, and I hope the remaining mosques, Islamic centres and prayer facilities across the UK take this extraordinary step in these unprecedented times and suspend all congregational activities.
The Arcadia Group - Sir Philip Green’s retail empire which includes Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge is closing all its stores with immediate effect:
The health and wellbeing of our employees, customers and communities remains our highest priority and we continue to closely follow the government guidelines.
In line with many other retailers the Group has made the difficult decision to close until further notice all of our stores from 4PM this afternoon. All store staff remain employees during this time and will be paid their normal pay for March plus any outstanding overtime payments, after which we will review this situation and will be keeping our store teams updated.
Pubs in Penge, south-east London, had already started filling up well before the prime minister’s announcement that they must close down.
The high street, whose environs host six pubs, still had five open as Boris Johnson addressed the nation. There were surreal scenes as the big-screen televisions beamed Downing Street’s daily press conference that carried news of one of the most wide-ranging peacetime changes to British life while, directly underneath them, games of pool continued undisturbed.
Friday night is fast approaching and the pubs are open. In some cases, they’re already busy.
When the government advises us to practise social distancing, is this what they had in mind? pic.twitter.com/dAbsnh3RPP
At the Fork ‘n’ Ale taproom in Weston-super-Mare, owner Dave Turner was letting customers finish their pints and meals.
“The prime minister has said we’ve got to close as soon as is reasonable,” said Turner. “I think that means that we should let our customers finish their drinks and meals and when it gets quiet we’ll close.”
Dave Turner outside his pub in Weston-super-Mare. pic.twitter.com/DiHv65zsHj
An update from the Department of Health and Social Care:
As of 9am on 20 March, a total of 66,976 people in the UK have been tested for coronavirus: 62,993 negative. 3,983 positive.
UPDATE on coronavirus (#COVID19) testing in the UK:
As of 9am on 20 March, a total of 66,976 have been tested:
62,993 negative.
3,983 positive.
As of 1pm, 177 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died.
The digital dashboard will be updated later today. pic.twitter.com/rnbSirfC1K
Q: What support will the government provide for charities and voluntary groups, who will be facing extra strain from the economic crisis?
Rishi Sunak says the government’s business rate relief schemes will help the charity sector, who are also covered by today’s unprecedented wage protection scheme.
The announcements made by the chancellor during the press conference have gone down well with Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress.
She said the chancellor had shown “real leadership” and called the measures announced “a breakthrough”.
We’re glad he’s listened to unions and taken vital steps to support working families. Employers can now be confident they’ll be able to pay their wage bills. They must urgently reassure staff that their jobs are safe.
This is a breakthrough. @RishiSunak has shown real leadership. We’re glad he's listened to unions and taken vital steps to support working families. Employers can now be confident they'll be able to pay their wage bills. They must urgently reassure staff that their jobs are safe.
The communities secretary Robert Jenrick has said the new social distancing measures announced by the Prime Minister will be in place for 14 days then reviewed, and has also provided a definitive list of places that are to close.
These are:
(1/2) We’ve made the decision to strengthen social distancing measures from this evening.
All restaurants, pubs, clubs, cafes & entertainment venues will be temporarily closed as we fight this virus.
(2/2) I appreciate and understand that this is very difficult moment for business owners and workers across the country and we are here to support you - whatever it takes.
3. These measures will be in place for 14 days and then reviewed to consider their effectiveness
We will work with businesses to find new ways of trading - takeaway & delivery will continue due to emergency changes to the law & these options will be available to all businesses
4. This applies to the following businesses:
Food & drink venues
Pubs, bars and clubs
Cinemas, theatres, concert and bingo halls
Spas, indoor leisure and gyms
Casinos & betting shops
Museums & galleries
More info on https://t.co/3tZ07dzIKP shortly.
Boris Johnson said of people not practising social distancing:
To people going against the scientific advice, you’re not only putting your own life and the lives of your family at risk, you’re endangering the community and you’re making it more difficult to protect the NHS and save lives.
Q: How much will the government’s economic rescue plan cost, and how will you pay for it?
Rishi Sunak says it is a “significant intervention”, but doesn’t put a sum on it (perhaps because he simply doesn’t know how long it will last).
After outlining his unprecedented economic intervention, Rishi Sunak spoke about the need to show compassion for each other during the crisis.
In a rather moving moment, the chancellor looked beyond the economic cost of the crisis to declare:
When this is over, and it will be over, we want to look back on this moment and remember the many small acts of kindness, done by us and to us.
Sunak says: “Now more than at any time in our history, we will be judged by our capacity for compassion. Our ability to come through this won’t just be down to what government or businesses do, but by the individual acts of kindness that we show each other ...
Sunak: “When this is over, and it will be over, and remember the many small acts of kindness done by us and to us. We want to look back on this time and remember how we thought first of others and acted with decency. We want to look back on this time and remember how, in the face
“of a generation-defining moment, we undertook a collective national effort and we stood together. It’s on all of us.”
Asked about supermarkets, Johnson reiterates that people should shop reasonably and be considerate of others.
Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, says social distancing applies to children just as it does to adults. She stresses the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, washing hands regularly, and encouraging children to exercise but not in groups. Piling up in shared cars is not a good idea, cut right down on social connections.
We’re not saying don’t go outside but if you do, do it in a way that reduces your social contact.
Chancellor Sunak also outlines £6bn of extra support for the welfare system, to help families through the coronavirus crisis.
The Universal Credit standard allowance will increase by £1,000, for the next 12 months, as will the Working Tax Credit basic element.
Asked about the prospect of restricting travel around the country, Johnson says major transport networks are too vital for delivering public services to immobilise.
Johnson repeats the importance of flattening the curve and lifting up NHS resilience, including having enough ventilators.
Asked whether he will see his mother on Mother’s Day, he advises people to think very carefully about visiting any elderly person or anyone who may be in a vulnerable group due to the risk of transmission of the virus.
Rishi Sunak also announces that he is deferring the next quarter of VAT payments due from businesses.
That means no business will pay VAT from now to June, and they’ll have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills. That should help companies struggling with a cash flow crisis.
Boris Johnson said the government would be continually assessing the situation around pubs and cafes and other requested closures “to see if we can relax any of these measures”.
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 mild symptoms.
And you can still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is now outlining the government’s new package to protect workers and their employers, at the daily coronavirus press conference in Downing Street.
This is a crucial issue for the economy, with some firms already laying staff off in response to a slump in demand this week.
Sunak says the economic intervention is “unprecedented” in the history of the British state, and will be one of the most comprehensive in the world.
Johnson says the government is strengthening the measures announced on Monday to avoid unnecessary social contact.
Following agreement of all the four nations of the UK, Johnson said all cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants must close tonight.
Boris Johnson is starting his press conference now. New measures are expected as he updates the nation on his government’s response. He will be joined by Rishi Sunak, the chancellor and Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer.
A “critical incident” that had been declared at Northwick Park hospital following a surge in coronavirus patients has been stood down after lasting for 24 hours, the hospital confirmed.
Staff and residents at St Vincent’s retirement home have been using a combination of pen and paper and social media to send a message home to reassure families after the home was put on lockdown.
The chief constable of Merseyside police has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Our Chief Constable Andy Cooke has issued the following statement after testing positive for Coronavirus https://t.co/yvxRZMEthr pic.twitter.com/8ryplc0rnT
EasyJet will ground the majority of its aircraft fleet from Tuesday 24 March, the airline has announced.
It will conclude rescue flights to repatriate customers by Monday, and will at most continue to run “a minimal schedule” of essential, mainly domestic routes.
Data from Italy indicates the coronavirus fatality rate is twice as high for men across all age groups, according to Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force response coordinator.
Birx reiterated the virus appears to be less deadly for younger people, but she emphasised younger people still need to take precautions.
A small transport operation, but one close to the Prime Minister’s heart, has fallen victim to the coronavirus.
The Emirates Air Line – the east London cable car built on the instructions of the then mayor, Boris Johnson – will stop operating indefinitely from tomorrow.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 177.
There have been 167 in England, six in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
Manchester Airport will work from a single terminal following a fall in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.
All flights that were due to depart from Terminal Two and Terminal Three, will now do so from Terminal One. This means passengers should check-in and pass through security in Terminal One from this date.
Anyone due to return to Manchester Airport will arrive into Terminal One, regardless of the terminal they originally departed from.
Luxury perfumer Miller Harris is donating its entire stock of 11,000 hand washes, hand lotion and hard soaps as treats for the elderly via Age UK.
The company is distributing soaps and hand washes to Age UK across the country. Support workers will then deliver the package to those in need within their local areas.
LET’S GET SOAP MOVING!
As a brand, we are partnering with Age UK and donating our entire stock of hand wash, hand lotion and soaps to those most vulnerable in the UK. Join us in donating generously, and let’s get soap moving!
Visit our website for more information! pic.twitter.com/0VUGQ0B1Fs
Iconic luxury store Harrods has announced it will be closing its doors amid the coronavirus crisis.
The department store in Knightsbridge, London, said it will keep its food halls and pharmacy open to continue providing “essential services” - but the rest of the store will shut from 7pm this evening.
Our Knightsbridge store is closing for a while, but our Food Halls and Pharmacy remain open to serve our community. See full details here: https://t.co/LmEAbNKgCm pic.twitter.com/2TmGegJkLV
Cambridge University Botanic Garden is to remain open, free of charge, from this Saturday, 21 March, until further notice.
Botanic Garden Friends said it was hugely important for accessible outdoor spaces to support physical and mental health at this difficult time.
From Saturday 21 March, Cambridge University Botanic Garden will be opening free of charge, daily, 11am - 3pm. Please see a statement from our Director below or visit our website https://t.co/zBqDmY0toA pic.twitter.com/Li6n8mnkYq
M&S, Lidl, Aldi, Danone and Coca-Cola European Partners have partnered with donations platform Neighbourly to create the Neighbourly Community Fund, funnelling funds directly to community organisations helping those most at risk during coronavirus crisis.
The partners have already committed a combined total of almost £500,000 to the fund, to provide immediate micro-grants to community organisations that are helping the people most affected by the outbreak, including the elderly, those on low incomes and people at risk of food insecurity.
With pressure rising for our local communities, we've partnered with @LidlGB @AldiUK @marksandspencer @Danone & @CocaColaEP to launch a #CommunitySupportFund worth £500k to help existing good causes on the Nbrly platform during the coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/yoLEkK3leM
Northwick Park Hospital declared a “critical incident” due to a surge in patients with coronavirus that lasted for 24 hours, the Health Service Journal reported.
In a message to staff seen by the HSJ, the hospital in Harrow said it had no critical care capacity left and had contacted neighbouring hospitals about transferring patients who need critical care to other sites.
A further 39 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 167, NHS England said.
The patients were aged between 50 and 99 years old and had underlying health conditions.
WhatsApp is in talks to set up a dedicated NHS chatbot to allow people to access basic information about the coronavirus pandemic, sources with knowledge of the discussions have told the Guardian, as the messaging service seeks to shed its growing reputation as a hub for disinformation about the pandemic.
Any NHS chatbot is likely to follow the same pattern as the one the World Health Organization launched on Friday, which gives people access to up-to-date information about the virus, and emoji-laden guidance on how to combat its spread, through the messaging service.
Related: WhatsApp in talks with NHS to set up coronavirus chatbot
The government needs to introduce food rationing urgently to prevent key workers and disadvantaged families going hungry, leading food experts have said in a letter to the prime minister today.
Tim Lang, a former government adviser and professor of food policy at London’s City University, said a major food crisis was rapidly unfolding. Rationing is already taking place unofficially in supermarkets but in a way that takes no account of people’s need, he has told Downing Street along with fellow authors, Prof Erik Millstone of Sussex University, and Prof Terry Marsden of Cardiff University.
I am aware of at least one London borough where the food bank has alerted the council of serious shortages despite an 80% rise in visitors.
We have more demand than ever, and some of it is different demand – people who can’t go to food banks or might be self-isolating, people who might have eaten at a lunch club for the elderly before. Government needs to instruct industry to keep supplying us.
Parking app JustPark has launched a nationwide appeal to increase the number of free parking spaces near hospitals by allowing the general public to list spaces for free via their app.
The @NHS needs your help! Surging demand for hospital car parks could make it difficult for NHS staff and to park. If you live near a hospital you can list your driveway with JustPark for free to help alleviate the problem:https://t.co/Y7cyGB2jbT#parkingforhealthcare #Covid_19
When Boris Johnson says we’ll turn the Covid-19 tide in 12 weeks, it’s just another line for the side of a bus, writes columnist Marina Hyde.
It has been quite something to watch Johnson’s smirk kick back in, live on air, even while people are asking him about the soon-to-break ventilator crisis in intensive care.
Television channels are scrambling to commission new programmes suitable for a stay-at-home audience, with Channel 4 today announcing that it has commissioned Jamie Oliver to present a daily show providing tips for cooking simple recipes in a crisis.
The programme, entitled Keep Cooking and Carry On, will be broadcast every weekday next week at 5.30pm – with Oliver pledging to teach people “how to make the most from kitchen staples and how to be creative with whatever ingredients they’ve got at home”.
The Department for Education has announced more details on how assessments will replace the cancelled A-levels and GCSE exams in England this year, with pupils to be told their grades before the end of July.
The DfE says the exam regulator Ofqual will set grades using national criteria, with each student’s individual grades then ratified by their teachers. Pupils will have the option of sitting an exam early in the next academic year.
The statement reads:
The government’s priority is now to ensure affected students can move on as planned to the next stage of their lives, including going into employment, starting university, college or sixth form courses, or an apprenticeship in the autumn.
This means ensuring GCSE, A and AS level students are awarded a grade which fairly reflects the work that they have put in. There will also be an option to sit an exam early in the next academic year for students who wish to.
I can only imagine how distressing the cancellation of exams has been for students, parents and teachers. My priority now is to ensure no young person faces a barrier when it comes to moving onto the next stage of their lives.https://t.co/KiIslZMfHu
The government is investigating a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus deaths in the West Midlands, with one of the region’s NHS trusts reporting nine deaths from the illness, the highest number for any trust in the country.
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, confirmed this morning that the government was looking “very, very closely” at why a hotspot seems to have emerged in the region, where 28 deaths have been recorded so far. The majority of deaths have been of elderly and at-risk patients.
Related: Sharp rise in number of coronavirus cases in West Midlands
Following suit, Aldi has announced a recruitment drive to hire 9,000 new workers, including 4,000 permanent jobs, to help keep shelves filled during the coronavirus outbreak.
The supermarket added that all nappies and paper products, including toilet and kitchen roll, will now be restricted to two items per customer. All other products will remain restricted to four items per customer, with a few exceptions.
We’re recruiting like never before. Please help us connect with those who need to find work. https://t.co/XArWl9DWbi pic.twitter.com/eCeEl73AIc
The government has banned the parallel export of 80 crucial medicines – including adrenaline, insulin, paracetamol and morphine – to protect supplies during the coronavirus outbreak.
The government describes parallel exporting as “when companies buy medicines meant for UK patients and sell on for a higher price in another country, potentially causing or aggravating supply problems”.
Car giant Jaguar Land Rover is to suspend production at its UK plants because of the coronavirus crisis.
The company said production will be temporarily halted over the course of next week, with the intention to resume on 20 April, subject to review of the “rapidly-changing circumstances.”
Jaguar Land Rover confirms temporary suspension of production at UK manufacturing facilities. https://t.co/d8gzz9dmt3 pic.twitter.com/vVTZLHFkvu
Farnborough International Airshow, which had been due to take place in July, has been cancelled.
It is with regret that we announce the Farnborough International Airshow 2020, due to take place in July, is cancelled. Read more here: https://t.co/aq9QhWxHF2 pic.twitter.com/RafkqiNtm8
Hotel Chocolat is the latest retailer to announce all NHS workers will get a 50% discount in stores on presentation of their staff pass during the coronavirus crisis.
All performances at “major commercial” West End theatres are cancelled until 26 April, according to the Society of London Theatre.
The Society of London Theatre has issued further updates for theatregoers, as it announces closures of venues until April 26. https://t.co/vof3ureSY9 pic.twitter.com/E3qwG92BQ9
The leader of Cornwall council, Julian German, and the Cornish MP Steve Double have asked people not to travel to the far south west of England.
Politicians and doctors fear an influx of people to Cornwall from London and other cities could put pressure on the health service in the area – and spread the virus.
It is important that everyone follows the advice laid out by the government to slow and stop the spread of this virus and do everything we can to support our essential public services, especially our NHS.
That includes avoiding non-essential travel.By anyone’s assessment a holiday at this time is not essential. So therefore, regrettably we are asking people not to come on holiday to Cornwall at this time.
Asda has announced plans to hire more than 5,000 temporary employees who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19.
The supermarket is working with more than 20 companies nationally to bring in staff from industries including food and travel.
Here’s some more on the publication of the scientific evidence that has been supporting the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the guidance laid out by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies SAGE, is that social distancing measures may be needed for most of the year.
The government was today actively discussing a new clampdown on London with pubs, cinemas and gyms possibly being ordered to close to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An announcement could be made within hours, after crisis planners became increasingly concerned that too many people were continuing to ignore social distancing advice, making the spread of the virus more likely.
Giving her daily briefing, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said that it was not helpful to use words like “lockdown”, which only confused the public, but added that “it should not be assumed that what we are asking people to do now will not become stricter in the future”.
There are 56 new cases in Scotland overnight but no change in the number of deaths.
The number of Scots who have been diagnosed with coronavirus has grown by 56 since yesterday to 322. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed the new total during a briefing on the outbreak.
Schools across Scotland will close today as part of an effort to combat the spread of the disease.
Agencies recruiting seasonal workers to pick the fruit and vegetables that will help feed the nation have issued an urgent call for British people to sign up to work.
Normally, 99% of the 80,000 workers come from abroad, mostly from eastern Europe. But travel restrictions and anxieties about the coronavirus pandemic have led many workers to cancel.
We urgently need a UK labour force who can help harvest crops to feed the nation. At a time when international travel is restricted and people are panic buying due to the coronavirus, it is crucial that growers can provide enough British produce to our supermarkets and local shops.
We are aware that there are many people facing sustained periods away from their usual employment or studies and Hops can offer paid positions.
Growers that rely on seasonal workers to pick, pack and grade our fruit and veg are extremely concerned. The industry is already working hard to promote available roles on farms locally, recognising that this could help those who unfortunately find themselves out of work. We are urging the government to address this situation as soon as possible and to implement any solution as a matter of urgency.
This crisis highlights the vulnerability of our globalised food system. We demand immediate and significant government action to ensure everyone can access healthy, affordable food; to secure our food supply; and to guarantee people and small businesses get the help they need to survive this crisis.
National Express is advising passengers to check online before they travel as it introduces an extensive reduction to its timetable with effect from 00:01 Tuesday 24 March 2020.
This follows the news yesterday that the coach operator will be temporarily running limited services across its scheduled national network in response to the impact of the coronavirus.
We will do our best to let customers know about the changes but strongly advise that if they still intend to travel, to check the National Express website before they start their journey.
For any passengers that turn up to find their service no longer running, we will accept their ticket on any available alternative service or accommodate their travel by other means.
A Scottish hotel has sacked more than a dozen members of staff over the coronavirus outbreak, making them homeless, our Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks, reports.
The workers at the Coylumbridge hotel near Aviemore received a letter yesterday informing them management was “taking the latest government advice” and that staff employment had been terminated, with those who live at the hotel complex asked to leave the premises immediately.
Related: Scottish hotel sacks 12 staff over coronavirus making them homeless
The Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katherine Viner, has written to readers about how we aim to cover the coronavirus crisis, emphasising the value of expertise, scientific knowledge and careful judgment in our reporting.
She writes:
With you, we are trying to face this unsettling moment with fortitude, and we’re remembering our history – the Guardian and Observer continued to publish throughout the 1918 flu pandemic and both world wars, and we will do our best to do the same during this global coronavirus pandemic.
Related: Coronavirus: the Guardian's promise to our readers
Supermarket Lidl has announced plans to recruit 2,500 workers on four-week contracts to help keep up with high demand in stores as customers continue clearing shelves over the coronavirus outbreak.
The grocer said recruits can start immediately and will be paid at least £9.30 an hour, adding “the new hires will be responsible for working together to keep the store clean, tidy and the shelves well stocked so that customers can get the products they need”.
Police chiefs have today asked employers to give workers who volunteer as special constables paid leave during the coronavirus crisis.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council say the move will boost the number of volunteers available, with police ranks expected to be depleted by illness and self-isolation in the coming months.
Our Special Constables play a vital role in the police service, a service which will be placed under great strain over the coming months.
We appreciate that this would be placing a further burden on businesses who are already suffering the economic impact of this virus, and we do not make this appeal lightly.
The government has made public the scientific evidence from SAGE that has been supporting its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The evidence feeding into the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies #SAGE is now live. This is supporting the government response to #COVID19 https://t.co/Ya9VYyIVeu pic.twitter.com/ImxLZSKeFg
Covid-19 patients are being turned away by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust as demand for lifesaving treatment surges, the Telegraph is reporting (paywall).
The news comes as the death toll in London rose more sharply than the rest of the country, with figures revealing yesterday that four in 10 coronavirus-related deaths so far in the UK have been in London.
First details of the cuts to train services show around 50% of the timetable is expected to be cut initially, although decisions are being left to individual operators.
All train companies nationwide are expected to have new timetables published for next week available on National Rail by Sunday lunchtime, 22 March.
The message from the government is clear – travel only if you have to. The changes we are making should allow us to sustain a timetable for those who absolutely have to travel such as doctors, nurses and the emergency services.
Farmers and farmworkers have been included on a list of key workers whose children can still go to school during the coronavirus crisis.
According to Farmers Weekly: “Some pointed out the irony of farmers and farmworkers being catapulted in just two weeks from ‘unskilled workers’ in the government’s post-Brexit immigration list to ‘key workers’ in the response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
The competition watchdog has said it will clamp down on retailers using the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to exploit customers.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the outbreak has prompted concerns that people could be exploited by companies “charging excessive prices or making misleading claims about their products”.
Related: eBay urged to clamp down on coronavirus profiteering
A letter to the chancellor calling for the introduction of a universal basic income to deal with the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has been signed by 150 MPs.
The Labour MP for Enfield, Feryal Clark, tweeted a copy of the letter, which said the crisis “must act as a catalyst for innovative and bold solutions”.
150 cross-party MPs have written to the Chancellor calling on him to use Universal Basic Income payments to ensure everyone has money in their pockets during the #Coronavirus public health and economic crisis.
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures pic.twitter.com/puGWyFCnDI
Our economy has seen a fundamental shift since 2008. The number of self-employed has risen from 3.25 million to more than five million people.
The app-based driver is not paid when there is no work. Nor is the zero-hours warehouse worker, the children’s entertainer or the agency-supplied care worker.
Myself and 500 other academics and public figures are calling for #EmergencyUBI https://t.co/feP3df9pyp
One of London’s most famous live music venues which has hosted David Bowie, Adele and Amy Winehouse is to reopen on Monday as a hub for the local coronavirus response.
The Union Chapel in Islington has cancelled forthcoming performances but will become the base for the local Covid-19 task force supporting rough sleepers. It will host a food bank and an initiative to proactively contact the most vulnerable people who may be in self-isloation.
Staff including sound and lighting engineers will be asked if they want to take roles helping handle and distribute donations of food, but particularly hand sanitiser and soap which they plan to distribute to rough sleepers.
The venue, which doubles as a non-conformist church, will also periodically open bathrooms to allow rough sleepers to wash themselves regularly to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
The food and soap collection and distribution is being operated with Islington Council, the Museum of Homelessness, and Streets Kitchen, while the venue will work with the charity Help on Your Doorstep to contact the vulnerable in isolation.
Since 1992, when first registered as a charity, Union Chapel has been home to a number of very special services and activities aimed at aiding the most in-need and disadvantaged members of our community.
These services are largely funded by the profits from the venue’s ticket sales and our events. During this crisis Union Chapel will escalate our community emergency support work, continuing to aid those in need.
The British Fashion Council, the not-for-profit organisation that promotes British design globally, has put a call out asking those with “production capacity” to help with shortages.
Imperfect Solutions — wanttohelp@yourfriendsin.nyc
A third person has died in Wales after contracting coronavirus, the chief medical officer for the country has confirmed.
They were aged 71 and had underlying health conditions, and were being treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
The Police Federation has called for officers in Northern Ireland to be tested for Covid-19 amid fears the spread of the virus could result in a skeleton workforce.
The representative body for Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers has also called for personal protective equipment to be made available for officers, including masks, gloves and scenes-of-crime white suits, as well as “spit and bite guards”.
We are not as well-resourced as other parts of the UK. We do not have cadets. We do not have access to military, so, we are very much left on our own.
It is therefore imperative that testing for police officers is brought in without any further delay. This will increase workforce resilience and will be a major factor in ensuring that our officers can remain at work.
There is still a lot of confusion about provision of school places for the children of key workers.
What we do know however is that the government has now clarified in its latest advice that households with at least one parent or carer identified as a critical or key worker will be able to send their children to school if necessary.
After the Department for Education issued its guidance on occupations to be classed as key workers who qualify for childcare in school over the coming weeks and months, school and business leaders have reacted with their concerns.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said parents should keep their children at home if possible from Monday, and to only send them to school if there was no safe alternative:
The key worker list is extensive and schools will not be able to cope with the number of children who could potentially arrive on Monday morning. It is important that the public understands that this is not business as usual.
Schools will endeavour to do their best to provide continuity of learning for all children whether at home or in school, but the provision in school is likely to be more akin to childcare than a normal timetable.
Defining which workers are critical to the national effort is a difficult task. Today’s list will help business and individuals to plan. But the need for different jobs will change in the weeks ahead, so the list must be kept under constant review with additions where necessary.
The World Snooker Championship has been postponed until at least July, PA reports.
#Breaking This year’s Betfred World Snooker Championship has been postponed due to coronavirus, with the World Snooker Tour saying in a statement it intends to host the tournament at the Crucible in July or August pic.twitter.com/A0BITtxu9L
The installation of the next Fourth Plinth sculpture in Trafalgar Square has been postponed because of coronavirus.
Heather Phillipson’s The End - a sculpture of a whirl of cream topped with parasites - was due to be installed on 26 March.
Anywhere but Westminster is back, and needs your help covering the impact of the coronavirus outbreak across the UK.
Related: Anywhere but Westminster: we need your help covering the coronavirus