UK coronavirus: restaurants, pubs and gyms to close; government to pay 80% of wages of those not working – as it happened

• All cafes, pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, gyms, leisure centres, nightclubs, theatres and cinemas must close tonight, Boris Johnson announced as the government brought in stronger measures to enforce social distancing.
• The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced the government would for the first time step in and pay people’s wages, as he launched an unprecedented economic rescue plan. The government will cover 80% of the salaries of retained workers up to £2,500 per month, and defer the next quarter of VAT payments due from businesses. He also outlined £6bn of extra support for the welfare system.
• Social distancing may be needed ‘for at least most of a year’, scientists advising the government said in evidence made public today.
• EasyJet announced it would ground the majority of its aircraft fleet from Tuesday 24 March, as the number of passengers collapsed in recent weeks.
• The UK death toll rose by 40 in 24 hours. The total number of confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in the UK now stands at 177. There have been 167 such deaths in England, six in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
• Pupils whose GCSE and A-level exams were cancelled will receive calculated grades by the end of July, the Department for Education announced.

That’s all from us for today on the UK side – and what a day it’s been.

But the global coverage of the pandemic continues over on our worldwide coronavirus blog, which you can continue to follow here.

1:59

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.

2:10

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.

There are 63,000 licenced and unlicenced restaurants and cafes, employing some 820,000 people. Restaurants will still be able to offer take out services so it does not follow that all of these people will be affected but it is impossible to know right now how many will continue to go to work.

There are 840 cinemas in the UK, according to the UK Cinema association, and this industry employs more than 21,000 people.

The details of the government’s announcement that it will protect workers, by paying up to 80% of their wages with a cap of £2500 per month, is not yet clear but will likely include many of these employees.

The median earnings of affected workers include bar staff whose median earnings stand at £7,553 in 2019 and waiters and waitresses who earned £8,091 on average. Around 75% of workers in both groups are part-time. Bar managers’ median wage is £19,691.

People working in gyms earn a median of £11,927 rising to £29,982 for managers.

The median wage for all full- and part-time employees stood at £24,897 last year.

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

However....

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.

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”.

McDonnell is disappointed that the government hasn’t boosted statutory sick pay, or providing more help for carers. He’s also worried that the wage guarantee scheme won’t be up and running fast enough to save jobs:

20 Mar 202014.21 EDT

Libby Brooks

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:

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.

Describing modern technology as a “lifeline”, she urged people to call, text and Skype loved ones and neighbours:

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.

Asking the public once again to follow health advice, she concluded:

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.

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”.

“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.”

Dave Prentis, general secretary of the UNISON union, believes Rishi Sunak’s plan will protect jobs:

“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.

“Now at least the fear of being laid off and having no income shouldn’t be one of them.

“UNISON will continue to work with employers and businesses providing our public services to make sure the money gets to people as a matter of urgency.”

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