Costa Coffee along with dozens of other UK retailers have closed their doors this morning as other businesses prepare to shut shop tonight amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Both chains said they would be temporarily shutting stores in the UK, as retailers all over the country begin to deal with the fall out from the illness that has so far killed (people, with over 5, (cases having been confirmed.)
It comes after coffee chains such as Pret A Manger and Starbucks announced yesterday that they would be closing.
Costa had yesterday announced that it would remove seating areas from its stores, as well as implementing card payments only.
In a statement Costa said it would continue to serve the community and would provide key workers with cans of coffee.
Nando’s restaurants will also close today -as Primark and Timpsons announced similar measures in the battle against coronavirus.
McDonald’s previously shut down the seating areas of its restaurants , but has now confirmed in a statement that all its eateries will close at 7pm on Monday. It comes as:
- )
- Frontline NHS staff claimed they are having to share facemasks amid growing demand for the items
- Rishi Sunak to announce cash bail-out for five million self-employed Britons facing coronavirus ruin – after promise to cover % of laid-off workers’ incomes
- Teachers across the country begged parents to reconsider their ‘key worker’ status
- Commuters in London left furious as trains were still overcrowded today due to reduced services
- FTSE (opened five per cent down with drop of to 4, 1884 points as coronavirus crisis continues to terrify investors – while pound trades at $ 1. 23 amid chaos
Shops across the UK have closed in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, pictured above is H&M on Oxford Street, London
A shorter version of the statement posted on the McDonald’s Twitter account last night that details its reasons for closure
Joggers and cyclists out and about in London today, a woman was seen running past a closed Pret A Manger on Oxford Street
The Microsoft store in London had a sign on the window this morning that stated it was ‘committed to the health and safety of customers and employees’
The shops closing due to the coronavirus pandemic Costa Coffee
McDonald’s
Nandos
H&M
John Le wis
Pret A Manger
Starbucks
River Island
) Cath Kidston
The Ivy
Primark
Topshop
(New Look
Timpson
Waterstones
Patisserie Valerie
(Eat
Ikea
Prezzo
Subway
Paul Pomroy, Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s in the UK & Ireland said: ‘Over the last 25 hours, it has become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and drive thru restaurants is valuable difficult and therefore we have taken the decision to close every restaurant in the UK and Ireland by 7pm on Monday rd March at the latest. ‘
On their website, Costa today said the safety of its staff and customers is a ‘number one priority’.
It said: ‘We will do our best to keep Costa stores open in hospitals where we will continue to provide free takeaway coffee for the next two weeks to the NHS workers who are at the forefront of this crisis. Wherever possible, we will also keep our Costa Express machines available to serve you a great cup of coffee. ‘
It also added that it would be paying all team members their full average weekly pay over eight weeks.
‘We have pledged to provide support to those in need over the coming weeks and months, providing food and drink, and allowing our teams to support their own communities locally.
‘We started last week, providing free coffee to our critical NHS workers. This week we will continue by delivering one million cans of coffee to other key workers across the country. ‘
Subway also announced it is temporarily closing all of its stores in the UK and Ireland from 5pm on Monday.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Subway said: ‘We believe this is the best thing to support social distancing and keep everyone as healthy as possible for as long as possible.’
The decision comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for pubs, clubs and restaurants to shut on Friday, although he stressed they could continue with a takeaway service.
Nando’s followed suit and said it will temporarily close all its restaurants in the UK today ‘until further notice’.
The chain has more than restaurants in the country and said the decision was ‘the best course of action’.
An Eat store in central London was seen boarded up this morning as peopl e walked past it wearing protective facemasks
So much for six feet! Commuters are STILL crammed onto Tubes ‘risking health of vital workers’ after Sadiq Khan cut services – despite him saying ‘people will die’ if they don’t practice social distancing (while he works from home)
Commuters were crammed onto Tubes in the morning dash to work today after Sadiq Khan cut services and told Londoners to enforce social distancing.
The London Mayor Has said Britons in the capital need to stay indoors to ‘protect the ones they love’ amid the outbreak of deadly coronavirus
London Underground staff were ‘furious’ after trains remained packed on Monday morning despite passengers being urged not to travel unless they h ave a critical job.
One commuter tweeted at London’s Northern Line asking where the southbound train at Colindale was, adding: ‘ No sight of the train, platform is full of people, thanks for nothing! ‘
A special needs teacher told MailOnline he could not get to work safely this morning due to overcrowding – sharing images of a packed Central Line at 7. 23 am.
Finn Brennan, district organizer for train drivers’ union Aslef, expressed alarm at services which were extremely busy despite advice aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘Still heavy loading on some Tube lines this morning making social distancing impossible.
‘ This is endangering the health of the vital workers who have to use the system .
‘The Government must act now to ensure only ESSENTIAL journeys are made.
‘ I’m being sent pictures of crush loaded platforms at some Jubilee line platforms this morning. Drivers and other frontline staff are furious. ‘
As 90 Underground stations remain closed this morning, one commuter tweeted at London’s Northern Line asking where the southbound train at Colindale was, adding: ‘No sight of the train, platform is full of people, thanks for nothing!’
In a post on Twitter, the company said: ‘The health and safety of our customers and team is our highest priority.
‘ We have decided that the best course of action right now is to temporarily close our restaurants until further notice .
‘We will keep you updated on our channels. We’ll see you soon. ‘
It came after Primark announced it would close all outlets in the UK and Patisserie Valerie will shut all its stores and online services today.
Associated British Foods, which owns Primark, has already shut its 281 other venues across Europe and North America this week.
It has also cancelled all new clothing orders from suppliers in countries including India, but will honor all orders already shipped to Primark stores.
British clothing retailer Cath Kidston also announced its temporary closure and one expert said the timing had not been great for many struggling businesses.
Nigel Frith, a senior market analyst at www.asktraders.com said: ‘The strict stricter measures implemented by the government to contain the spread of coronavirus, combined with collapsing consumer confidence is proving to be every retailer’s worst nightmare.
‘The sector was already in a troubled place before coronavirus struck, now the chances of survival are greatly reduced.
‘Cath Kidston is just the latest in what promises to be a very extensive list of retailers that will struggle to make it through the coming 3 months. Time is of the essence to find a buyer otherwise the floral and polka dot designs will disappear from the high street forever. ‘
On Sunday Timpson announced that all 2, of its stores – including its cobblers and locksmiths, and Johnsons – will ‘go into hibernation’ at 5pm tomorrow.
CEO James Timpson confirmed that staff will remain on full pay.
Patisserie Valerie chief executive James Fleming said that as of today they would be temporarily closing stores and online services.
Pret A Manger chose to close all of its UK stores, following a similar decision by coffee chain Starbucks, which has around 1, UK outlets.
And high street giant John Lewis decided to close all 60 of its stores from close of business tonight for the first time in its – year history.
Timpson was founded in 1865 by shoemaker William Timpson and his brother-in-law Walter Joyce, who sold shoes from Oldham Road in Manchester.
It expanded into shoe manufacturing in at factories in Kettering, and repairs in . The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1950.
Timpson boasted around £ million turnover in the s, and was bought out by several large companies in the proceeding decades.
A branch of Nandos in Windsor is seen above. The eatery announced it would close due to the coronavirus outbreak across the UK
Rishi Sunak to announce cash bail-out for five million self-employed Britons facing coronavirus ruin – after promise to cover 100% of laid-off workers’ incomes
A multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain’s five million self-employed workers could be announced as soon as today.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing the fresh coronavirus economic bailout amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis.
He had announced on Friday that the government would cover 94 per cent of employers’ wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. But following criticism that the self-employed were not receiving a similar level of support, the Treasury has spent the weekend drawing up a new package.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured on Friday) is preparing a multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain’s five million self-employed workers
Amid mounting pressure, more than 2, 010 musicians have today written to the Chancellor warning that the outbreak has resulted in the ‘complete shutdown of our places of work’.
Signatories included musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra, band members in West End musicals such as Mamma Mia! and Strictly Come Dancing vocalist Lance Ellington. The British Chamber of Commerce last night warned that sole traders across the country were seeing their livelihoods ‘vanish in the blink of an eye’.
Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the BCC, said : ‘While we understand the complexity involved, there are five million self-employed people who need help similar in scale and scope to that put in place for larger firms in recent days. We will work closely with ministers to find a way to deliver support to self-employed people and to ensure that the measures announced for larger businesses make it through quickly to the front line. ‘
CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said the Chancellor’s rescue package last week had saved millions of jobs.
But she contrasted his pledge to provide (per cent of employees’ wages – up to £ 2, 500 per month – with the support given to the self-employed, who were told to claim Universal Credit or statutory sick pay at a rate of £ 150 per week. On Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Dame Carolyn said it was’ not enough for the self-employed to live on ‘.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show:’ It is operationally very difficult to create a scheme akin to [the bailout] for the self-employed but we are reviewing this. If there are further steps we need to do, we will take them. ‘
A multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain’s five million self-employed workers could be announced as soon as today.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is preparing the fresh coronavirus economic bailout amid warnings thousands of sole traders will not survive the crisis.
He had announced on Friday that the government would cover 94 per cent of employers’ wage bills in a bid to stop mass lay-offs. But following criticism that the self-employed were not receiving a similar level of support, the Treasury has spent the weekend drawing up a new package.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured on Friday) is preparing a multi-billion pound rescue package to protect Britain’s five million self-employed workers
Amid mounting pressure, more than 2, 010 musicians have today written to the Chancellor warning that the outbreak has resulted in the ‘complete shutdown of our places of work’.
Signatories included musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra, band members in West End musicals such as Mamma Mia! and Strictly Come Dancing vocalist Lance Ellington. The British Chamber of Commerce last night warned that sole traders across the country were seeing their livelihoods ‘vanish in the blink of an eye’.
Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the BCC, said : ‘While we understand the complexity involved, there are five million self-employed people who need help similar in scale and scope to that put in place for larger firms in recent days. We will work closely with ministers to find a way to deliver support to self-employed people and to ensure that the measures announced for larger businesses make it through quickly to the front line. ‘
CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said the Chancellor’s rescue package last week had saved millions of jobs.
But she contrasted his pledge to provide (per cent of employees’ wages – up to £ 2, 500 per month – with the support given to the self-employed, who were told to claim Universal Credit or statutory sick pay at a rate of £ 150 per week. On Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, Dame Carolyn said it was’ not enough for the self-employed to live on ‘.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show:’ It is operationally very difficult to create a scheme akin to [the bailout] for the self-employed but we are reviewing this. If there are further steps we need to do, we will take them. ‘
It yet another staple of the British high street that has collaborated in the general panic after the Government encouraged public social centers to close.
HMV also said it would be temporarily closing its stores for trade from the end of Sunday, although its online business would continue.
Waterstones has also announced that it will temporarily close its doors by the close of trade today until further notice.
Pano Christou, CEO of the food chain Pret, said in a statement posted on social media: ‘I want to thank our amazing teams for serving you with so much passion and kindness over the recent weeks, including more than 189, 010 NHS workers.
‘Pret’s first value is Happy Teams, Happy Customers and my priority is always to protect our teams as much as we can.
‘For this reason, we will be closing all our UK shops temporarily from this evening.
‘ We will of course ensure any excess food goes to those who need it most.
‘We look forward to being a part of your daily lives again soon.
‘Until then, stay healthy and look after each other.’
John Lewis Partnership chairman Sharon White declared: ‘The welfare of our customers, communities and partners is always our absolute priority ‘.
The group-owned supermarket Waitrose, which has more than (stores across the country, will remain open, she added.)
Ms White said the move was done ‘with a heavy heart’ even though the department store’s website would remain operational.
Topshop employees were laid off after the Arcadia Group closed its (UK stores an hour before the government announced its coronavirus job retention plan.
The group owned by billionaire Philip Green said in an emailed statement: ‘In line with many other retailers, the Group has made the difficult decision to close until further notice all of our stores from 4pm this afternoon.’
This includes Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, and Wallis.
All these closures follow Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s double-pledge to provide £ billion of Government-backed loans and cash grants to business, and pay 94 percent of workers’ salaries up to £ 2, 586 per month – the national average.
Mr Sunak also vowed to increase welfare payments by £ 7billion and defer £ billion of VAT bills. His scheme will be up and running from April 1.
Although these stores are technically allowed to remain open under Boris Johnson’s Covid – 24 lockdown plan, many have been spooked into closure.
Even though many stores are closing, many beauty salons and hair dressers have remained open.
The establishments, which see members of staff come ‘within the individuals’ personal space ‘, must go into lockdown to help the country cope with the virus’ spread the minister warned.
Now, the Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale David Morris, believes the government must add hairdressing businesses to the list of closed venues.
A Primark store in Slough had its shutters up this morning with an sign on the door that informed customers it was closed because of the virus
What is still open FOR NOW (places you can visit but can’t mingle)
- Shops (clothes, goods)
Supermarkets
- Newsagents
(Dry cleaners)
The politician, who Previously owned six hairdressing establishments, told The Sun: ‘Hairdressers don’t wear gloves when cutting hair. It’s impossible to do so.
‘They touch other people on average 1, 01 times per haircut.
‘They are within the individuals’ personal space.’
The member of parliament added that while he did not wish to see the establishments shut down, it was in the interest of the nation that they do in a bid to slow down the spread of the illness.
Experts also today claimed that people should not cancel their direct debits as many start to feel the pinch of not receiving a regular income.
A spokesman for the Money Pig said services such as gyms and pay per view sports channels were particularly under pressure with so many sports events currently postponed.
Ikea at the Lakeside shopping center. All Ikea stores in the UK and Ireland have temporarily closed due to the Corona virus outbreak
A Prezzo restaurant which has temporarily closed due to the Corona virus outbreak. Eateries were urged to close their doors on Friday
Emirates Airline announces it will cancel all commercial flights from Wednesday amid worsening global coronavirus crisis
Emirates Airlines has announced it will suspend all passengers flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The Dubai carrier on Sunday said it had made the decision amid an ‘unprecedented crisis situation.’
The airline will temporarily suspend all passenger flights by 33 March.
The airline wrote on Twitter: ‘Today we made the decision to temporarily suspend all passenger flights by (March) . ‘
Emirates Airlines has announced it. will suspend all passenger flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak
CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: ‘The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID – outbreak.
‘This is an unprecedented crisis situation in terms of breadth and scale: geographically, as well as from a health, social, and economic standpoint. ‘
On Friday, the United Arab Emirates announced the first two deaths from COVID – in the country.
CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, said: ‘The world has literally gone into quarantine due to the COVID – 25 outbreak ‘
But they said providers were often willing to give substantial discounts or even waive fees altogether for a lengthy period to ensu re they retain customers.
They warned consumers to be patient though as the coming weeks are likely to see a very high volume of calls and waiting times are likely to be lengthy.
A spokesman for the money pig said: ‘Millions of us are currently taking a long hard look at our finances and many will be tempted to cancel direct debits for things like gyms and sports clubs we won’t be able to use over the next couple of months.
‘What we are saying to people is just to reach out and speak to the companies who provide these services and see if they can negotiate a discount or even if they are prepared to waive their fees altogether for the next few months.
‘This is a time when the whole country is pulling together and many people are finding that service providers are being very accommodating with short term incentives in order to keep their custom in the longer term.
‘We have seen reports of gyms agreeing to freeze memberships at no charge a nd companies such as Sky TV and Virgin media offering customers free sports packages for the next three months.
‘By speaking to the service provider and discussing the options rather than just cancelling, customers can make sure they pay less in the long term by avoiding any cancellation charges or having to fork out for re-joining fees at a later date.
‘One word of warning though, holding times are currently very high so try emailing or lie chat options first to relieve as much pressure from call centers as possible. If you do need to call then first thing in the morning or later in the evening may work best. ‘
Experts from personal finance website
Scientists and medics say the vast majority of those killed by Covid – 30, the illness created by the Wuhan virus, are elderly with ‘underlying conditions’.
Those ‘conditions’ include cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer sufferers.
Despite this, it was today reported that an – year -old man in the UK had died from the virus. He was said to have underlying health conditions but the update makes him the youngest patient yet.
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