Pub goers have taken to social media to lament Boris Johnson’s announcement that pubs and restaurants across the country will be closed by sharing humourous memes and pictures.
The announcement comes as the Prime Minister detailed unprecedented measures to cover the wages of workers who would otherwise lose their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Prime Minister said that nightclubs, theatres, gyms and leisure centres should close their doors from Friday night to slow the spread of Covid-19 and prevent the NHS coming under unsustainable pressure.
At his daily Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister said the measures were needed to reduce ‘unnecessary’ social gatherings by 75 per cent in order to have an impact on the infection rate.
Twitter was flooded with humourous memes and pictures as the Prime Minister announced pubs were being forced to close in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak
‘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 said.
‘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.’
He was followed by Chancellor Rushi Sunak who said he was establishing a coronavirus job protection scheme to help employers hit by the outbreak.
He said that they would be able to apply to HM Revenue and Customs to cover 80 per cent of the wages of staff they keep on up to £2,500 a month.
Mr Sunak said: ‘our planned economic response will be one of the most comprehensive in the world.’
He added: ‘To all those at home, right now anxious about the days ahead, I say you will not face this alone.’
It followed criticism that his £350billion emergency support package for the economy earlier this week concentrated on businesses but did little for their staff.
The announcement came after scientists advising the Government warned that restrictions to control the spread of the virus will need to be in place for most of a year – at least.
The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling said while the severity of measures could fluctuate, ‘stricter’ measures would need to be enforced for at least half of the year in order to keep cases at a level the NHS can cope with.
These could include school closures and social distancing for everyone, while less restrictive measures include isolating cases and households.
The new measures come as a further 39 people in England were confirmed to have died after testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the UK death toll to 177.
Construction worker Jimmy Birge said he was disappointed that pubs would be shut down.
Sipping his final pint at a Wetherspoons in London’s Surrey Quays before the shutters came down the 35-year-old told Mail Online.
‘I can’t say I agree with the decision. The underground is more packed than a pub and they are still running. People are packed together more closely than in here.
‘I do not understand why Boris is doing this. Lots of people like to pop down to the pub for a pint, particularly after a hard day at work. I don’t see the harm in keeping them open.
‘It is going to get very boring in the evenings now the pubs and restaurants are closed. I suppose I will have to go straight home.’
While Mr Birge, who works as a tunneller on the Cross-Rail project, was against pubs closing he was full of praise for Boris in promising to pay workers 80 per cent of their salary.
‘That will be a relief for many people. My job is still continuing so I do not have to worry. I’ve also got a few quid in the bank to tide me over.
‘But there will be many people who will be relieved that they will still see some money coming in.’
Becky Johnson, for Sky News, spoke to pubgoers in Wolverhampton earlier today soon after the announcement was made.
Speaking to one customer, she said: ‘Ben, we’re keeping a safe distance. Look, you’ve been told to avoid pubs for quite some days but you’re still here… why?’
He replied: ‘To be honest, I think you’ve got to support your locals until they shut down.
‘If it is shut down then I understand that says how serious proceedings are – but until then I am going to support the local to be honest.
‘I don’t feel like I am affecting anybody by being here, I’m a safe distance from everybody and I just think its a nice little relaxation after work.
Becky Johnson for Sky News spoke to pubgoers in Wolverhampton earlier today soon after the announcement was made
Ms Johnson asked: ‘What do you make of this decision to close pubs from this evening for however long it takes?’
Another pub goer said: ‘You can close the pubs but I work in an organisation where there are over 100 people so there are more in my work than there is here tonight – and that is fully operational so…
‘You can’t just pick and chose what you want to close. If you want to close then you close everything, you can’t just pick on the pubs.
‘We are all keeping a safe distance, everybody keeps a safe distance from each other anyway in the pubs – you get set tables and things so it think its a bit over the top.’
One customer said: ‘You can’t just pick and chose what you want to close. If you want to close then you close everything, you can’t just pick on the pubs’
Ms Johnson added: ‘Some people will look at you two, young healthy men and you’re not in the at risk category of getting serious complications but do you understand that this is about other people?
Ben said: ‘No, of course obviously I do. If I felt any symptoms or felt poorly then I would be at home but I feel physically fine. I’ve not had any symptoms or anything like that so I don’t see the problem of popping into the pub, keeping a safe distance away from everybody and supporting my local pub.
‘I don’t want them to shut down. Nothing has been said about the shut dates or how long it is going to be down so I do think that we need to support them while it is open.’