Wetherspoons will be closing its doors to punters across the UK – a day after it said it would be keeping pubs open. Bosses have said the pub chain will comply with Boris Johnson's request for all bars, clubs, theatres and leisure facilities to close, in a country-wide effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Prime Minister's announcement comes as NHS England announced a further 39 people lost their lives to the virus. He had previously only advised businesses to close, but has now said measures would be enforced if need be.
Johnson said he trusts all businesses owners to comply with the closures but changes to "licensing arrangements" will make the ban easy to enforce.