Boris Johnson announces closure of all UK pubs and restaurants

Cafes and leisure centres also ordered to close from Friday evening due to Covid-19 crisis

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All cafes, pubs, restaurants, gyms and other similar venues across the UK have been ordered to close from Friday evening for the foreseeable future, as Boris Johnson said it was vital to take more stringent steps to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

At a press conference at Downing Street, the prime minister thanked people for responding to official encouragement earlier this week to stay away from such places but said the time had come for more action.