So that's effectively everyone who works in a pub, club, theatre or restaurant out of work for at least 12 weeks?

[DoubleAction]

Is it? Or am I misunderstanding something?

Most of those won't be paid if they don't work and there won't be any customers.

Unless I missed it there was nothing said about them or what support there will be for them

Probably eyprovider!

I think we will be in firm lockdown shortly. Schools and colleges are likely to be closed in a week to two weeks. Then only vital services plus schools and pharmacies will be open - though obviously there are considerable supply lines needed to keep food, medicines and medical supplies moving. I can't see that food deliveries will be sustainable.

I'm not sure what the point is of blaming the government and the media for a global pandemic with no proven solutions or exit to lockdown. But they need to be very clear and move from advising to ordering and to quickly reassure how a safety net will be in place for individuals and businesses. I think some of that will come this afternoon.

I have a catering business. Orders are down nearly 90%.

Insurers will not cover Covid if you have the optional extra pandemic cover because it's not there in writing. I have heard a lot about if the government forces closures that the insurance companies will pay out - all sorts of petitions going around - but the insurance broker today I spoke to said it's not true as the forced closure is still the result of a pandemic, which is not covered.

The only possibility is government support to businesses but I don't know where they will find the money to do this. We will probably close after today, that announcement yesterday was the end for us

I'm panicking. DH is a chef and I'm on statutory mat pay, this isn't going to end well.

Well the government could have taken action to stop it getting here in the first place when they saw how it took over China. But no, they just carried on letting all flights in as normal, they'll be locked down now so might as well have done it then!

Well as expected from tomorrow I no longer have a job! God knows what I'm going to do now or how I will feed my children and keep a roof over our heads.

Fco have just advised no non essential international travel globally. That's the airlines, airports and travel agents properly killed too.

This is going to be horrendous

I think as taxpayers the people are going to have to make demands on this government, who after all are supposed to work for the people.

Me and dh have lost all our income, no idea what we'll do.
Busy trying to set up an online sideline in teaching, but doubt we'll create an awareness in time for a salary or wage, anytime soon.
We are music and entertainment, no rescue package for us, just the venue's we work.
All work cancelled and no cancelation fees being paid, despite pubs and other venue's being given money to pay staff.

@devlesko

You might have to become one of the dreaded sheeple.

Devlesko I don't know what it's like down south but right now there's no way to actually get hold of the money the government is promising so I don't think anybody is relying on it when they're making decisions. The Scottish Government is promoting a small business helpline who have an auto response when you phone them "we don't have any information about how to claim the financial support"

The SSP isn't actually reclaimable for months (they don't even have a mechanism in place)

Their mouths are writing cheques but their infrastructure can't post them!