The government has announced it will help people pay their wages in an "unprecedented" move to address the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier today all pubs, restaurants and other public spaces will close from tomorrow (March 21) to help prevent the further spread of coronavirus.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak then revealed a wage bailout plan, saying the government would pick up "most of" the wages of workers for the first time in the country's history.
He said: “I have a responsibility to make sure that we protect, as far as possible, people’s jobs and incomes.
“Today I can announce that in the first time of our history, the government is going to step in and help pay people’s wages.
“We’re setting up a new coronavirus job retention scheme. Any employer in the country small or large, charitable or non-profit, will be eligible for the scheme.
“Employers will be able to contact HMRC for a grant to cover most of the wages of people who are not working but are furloughed and kept on payroll rather than being laid off.
“Government grants will cover 80% of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month – that’s just above the median income.”
The announcement follows the news a further 39 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 167.
