RELIGION
Advice to work from home has hit trade in city centre pubs, with the number of drinkers down up to 30% in some areas.
UK Hospitality said “it’s as if somebody flipped a switch”, with once buzzing bars now deserted.
But while high street pubs suffer, locals are getting trade from remote workers who head to the corner boozer for a pint rather than travel to town.
Bookings for events, conferences and hotel rooms
As yet, just one care home has closed its doors to visitors.
Sunningdale in Tamworth, Staffs, acted after a case of coronavirus was confirmed at a nearby school.
Fears of a significant number of workers having to self-isolate has led to talks between the Government and care home bosses over how they could fill the void.
There are around 1.5 million carers in Britain and a major outbreak could put 220,000 in self-isolation. The Department
Tesco has already imposed rationing on certain items, with shoppers limited to five packs of baked beans, pasta, longlife milk, tinned veg and bleach.
It is the only chain to ration food but rivals are restricting shoppers to how many toiletries they can buy.
The Co-op has a limit of three on packs of loo rolls, hand sanitiser, antibacterial soap and hand and surface wipes.
Aldi has clamped down on loo rolls, allowing one pack per person and is also rationing have slumped by 50% for the next two to three weeks as people avoid large gatherings. Should the virus spread, pubs may be forced to impose a 3ft exclusion zone between drinkers and have last orders at 6pm. And there could be a ban on screening live sports to keep numbers down. Hotels are riding the storm but want emergency measures such as a VAT cut or a business rates holiday of up to six months for security. of Health is looking into suggestions that background checks for workers who have close physical contact with vulnerable people be relaxed.
This could extend to those who have left care work or retired being drafted back in without the usual lengthy wait for approval. Care homes are already asking relatives to think twice about visiting and urging families to stay in touch with their loved ones by phone.
But all visits could be banned if the outbreak escalates. hand sanitisers, as are Boots, Asda, Iceland and Waitrose. Morrisons is limiting us to six bottles of bleach and Sainsbury’s has a three-pack limit on soap, handwash and tissues.
With shoppers ignoring advice and stockpiling staples, the Government has lifted the late-night curfew on delivery lorries. And supermarkets are urging friends, family and neighbours of vulnerable, elderly folk who have to self-isolate to help do their shopping.
Churches, synagogues and mosques are telling worshippers to follow Government advice on “good hygiene practice”.
The Church of England said communion would only be banned in areas where there were a high number of cases of infection.
Peace handshakes and the laying on of hands would also be suspended.
All churches have been urged to install hand sanitisers.
Synagogues have banned handshakes and kissing the holy book,