Boris Johnson: Cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants must close tonight

The line up at today’s press conference. Photograph: PA
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants, among other venues, to close tonight in a strengthening of measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres also must shut tonight.

  • 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,” he told the daily Covid-19 press conference.

    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.

    Though, to be clear, they can continue to provide take out services.

“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,” he told the daily Covid-19 press conference.