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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/mar/20/uk-coronavirus-live-confusion-over-key-workers-list-as-schools-close
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| UK coronavirus live: restaurants, pubs and gyms to close tonight; government to pay 80% of wages of those not working | UK coronavirus live: restaurants, pubs and gyms to close tonight; government to pay 80% of wages of those not working |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| All the day’s developments as UK death toll reaches 177 and government announces new clampdown alongside financial easing | All the day’s developments as UK death toll reaches 177 and government announces new clampdown alongside financial easing |
| 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, | |
| Speaking directly to particular groups, the first minister began with older people: | |
| Describing modern technology as a “lifeline”, she urged people to call, text and Skype loved ones and neighbours: | |
| Asking the public once again to follow health advice, she concluded: | |
| 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. | |
| The union also says that testing could help reduce the risk of frontline staff transmitting the infection to vulnerable members of the public. | |
| London Fire Brigade has at least 280 personnel in isolation, 5% of its overall staff; West Midlands Fire Service, which covers Birmingham, has 105 staff in self-isolation, 5.5%; Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has 285 staff in isolation, 3.75%; Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has 61 staff in isolation or 4%. | |
| Fire and rescue services across the UK are operating with 11,500 fewer firefighters than in 2010, and, unless services are able to test their employees, they could face dangerous shortages. | |
| 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”. | |
| Dave Prentis, general secretary of the UNISON union, believes Rishi Sunak’s plan will protect jobs: | |
| TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady is also impressed, saying Sunak is showing “real leadership”: | |
| 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. | |
| She said everyone must act now to slow the spread of the virus, adding that we must also reduce the number of people we meet and come into contact with. | |
| 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”. | |
| Andrew Rose, a study abroad administrator is returning to Sydney, Australia tomorrow. “Pubs are not as packed as they usually would be and they’re the only hubs we have. I’ve been practicing self isolation all week. | |
| “I think the uk has had adequate restrictions, people have been practicing social distancing. It’s the same in Australia.” | |
| “Closing pubs now is fine, they said people shouldn’t go but had no protections for them. The pub today only has about 20 people in it so people are practicing social distancing.” | |
| Caitlin Morgan and her colleague Nick Slotnick are both from Woodford, and work in a local college. “It’s sad but inevitable. It had to happen.” | |
| They went to the Red Lion pub on the high road closed earlier in the week. | |
| Brid Fitzgerald said: “I’m surprised they weren’t shut sooner. I needed a break because I’m working from home.” | |
| A group of three teachers who did not want to be named said they felt “expendable”. | |
| “If we’re gonna catch something it will be from the tube, which is packed, rather than from the pub.” | |
| 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. | |
| Handily, the chancellor has tweeted the key points: | |
| 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. | |
| Their role will focus on: | |
| Helping the elderly and vulnerable with their shopping trip so they get what they need | |
| Assisting the elderly and vulnerable at the checkouts and helping them with their bags | |
| Taking items to food banks and other charities, who are desperately in need of supplies | |
| Replenishing items that are needed by the community | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Harun Khan, Secretary General of the MCB, said: | Harun Khan, Secretary General of the MCB, said: |
| 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 Arcadia Group - Sir Philip Green’s retail empire which includes Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge is closing all its stores with immediate effect: |
| Pubs in Penge, south-east London, had already started filling up well before the prime minister’s announcement that they must close down. | 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. | 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. |
| Shortly after the announcement, as the prime minister was still speaking, one customer headed out to call a friend: “Listen, you’d better hurry up and get here because all the pubs are shutting at 7pm. Hurry up,” he was heard to say. | Shortly after the announcement, as the prime minister was still speaking, one customer headed out to call a friend: “Listen, you’d better hurry up and get here because all the pubs are shutting at 7pm. Hurry up,” he was heard to say. |
| At another pub about 250 metres away, a sign on the door assured customers that, as a response to the Covid-19 alert, children would no longer be allowed in until further notice. The bar was full, friends were greeting each other with handshakes and horse racing continued to be shown on the televisions. | At another pub about 250 metres away, a sign on the door assured customers that, as a response to the Covid-19 alert, children would no longer be allowed in until further notice. The bar was full, friends were greeting each other with handshakes and horse racing continued to be shown on the televisions. |
| At a Wetherspoon’s further up the road, customers had been told that they must sit apart and try to use the app when ordering, but it too stayed open. It too was still was doing a roaring trade. | At a Wetherspoon’s further up the road, customers had been told that they must sit apart and try to use the app when ordering, but it too stayed open. It too was still was doing a roaring trade. |
| At the Fork ‘n’ Ale taproom in Weston-super-Mare, owner Dave Turner was letting customers finish their pints and meals. | 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.” | “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.” |
| The end of the week is celebrated with “Thank Cod it’s Fryday” - fish and chips and a pint for a tenner. “This has been the roughest week ever,” said Turner. “It would have been nice if we’d had the weekend to try and balance that out but it’s not going to happen.” | The end of the week is celebrated with “Thank Cod it’s Fryday” - fish and chips and a pint for a tenner. “This has been the roughest week ever,” said Turner. “It would have been nice if we’d had the weekend to try and balance that out but it’s not going to happen.” |
| Seven staff work at the pub and another six at its brewery. “I feel very sorry for all of them,” said Turner. “I’m hoping the help they say they’ll put in to assist with salaries will work properly. | Seven staff work at the pub and another six at its brewery. “I feel very sorry for all of them,” said Turner. “I’m hoping the help they say they’ll put in to assist with salaries will work properly. |
| “It’s going to be very difficult but we have to do what is morally right for the country as a whole. We have to do what is best for everyone. We will be closing down tonight.” | “It’s going to be very difficult but we have to do what is morally right for the country as a whole. We have to do what is best for everyone. We will be closing down tonight.” |
| An update from the Department of Health and Social Care: | 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. | 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. |
| As of 1pm, 177 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died. | As of 1pm, 177 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died. |
| Q: What support will the government provide for charities and voluntary groups, who will be facing extra strain from the economic crisis? | 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. | 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. |
| He also suggests the government could increased funding for voluntary community groups. | He also suggests the government could increased funding for voluntary community groups. |
| 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. | 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”. | She said the chancellor had shown “real leadership” and called the measures announced “a breakthrough”. |
| 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. | 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: | These are: |
| Food & drink venues | Food & drink venues |
| Pubs, bars and clubs | Pubs, bars and clubs |
| Cinemas, theatres, concert and bingo halls | Cinemas, theatres, concert and bingo halls |
| Spas, indoor leisure and gyms | Spas, indoor leisure and gyms |
| Casinos & betting shops | Casinos & betting shops |
| Museums & galleries | Museums & galleries |
| Boris Johnson said of people not practising social distancing: | Boris Johnson said of people not practising social distancing: |
| Q: How much will the government’s economic rescue plan cost, and how will you pay for it? | 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). | 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). |
| It will be financed through the usual government borrowing channels - which means the UK’s Debt Management Office will be issuing bonds (called ‘gilts’ in City jargon), to pay for it. | It will be financed through the usual government borrowing channels - which means the UK’s Debt Management Office will be issuing bonds (called ‘gilts’ in City jargon), to pay for it. |