Prime Minister Boris Johnson has introduced strict new rules, including the closure of all non-essential shops, to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
He described the virus as the "biggest threat this country has faced for decades" and detailed the retail businesses that are allowed to stay in operation.
Boris Johnson said without a huge national effort to stop the growth of coronavirus, the NHS would be overwhelmed.
He insisted people must stay at home, except for very limited purposes, and said shops selling non-essential goods, including clothes and electronics stores, will be closed immediately.
Briony McDermott, employment solicitor at Wake Smith, looks at the latest moves.
“Retailers allowed to stay open include supermarkets and other food shops, health stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, bicycle shops, home and hardware stores, laundrettes and dry cleaners, garages, car rentals, pet shops, corner shops, newsagents, post offices and banks.
“Online retail operations are unaffected.
“Travelling to and from work is only permitted if absolutely necessary and work cannot be done from home.”
Last week, all bars, restaurants and leisure venues were told to close.
Johnson said the unprecedented package of measures was needed to protect the NHS and to save many thousands of lives.
The police will have powers to enforce the rules and issues fines where necessary and the Government will review the measures in three weeks.
A package of measures to support businesses unveiled by the Government includes:
- a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - this will pay 80% of an employee’s wages if they are put on furlough leave
- deferring VAT and Income Tax payments
- a Statutory Sick Pay relief package for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)
- a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England
- small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
- grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,001 and £51,000
- the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank
- a new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans
- the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme
For queries on employer and employee issues contact Briony McDermott at [email protected]
