The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that all bars, pubs, restaurants will close from this evening (Friday 20^th March). The length of time the measures will stay in effect have not yet been revealed.

As the country anticipates economic fall out from the move, for the first time in its history the government will pay the wages of employees unable to work due to the coronavrius pandemic in a radical move aimed at protecting people’s jobs.

It will pay 80% of wages for employees unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic, worth up to £2,500 a month. The unprecedented measures would stop workers being laid off due to the crisis, according to chancellor Rishi Sunak said.

Some firms have warned that the virus could see them collapse, wiping out thousands of jobs, as life in the UK is put on hold.UK policies to limit the spread of coronavirus would be needed for at least most of a year, he said.