Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today tell people that they don't have to return to their workplaces - and should continue working from home.
The move is part of the measures to stop the current rapid spread of Covid-19.
The Government has warned that as cases continue to rise exponentially we could be seeing 50,000 new cases a day by the middle of October and 200 deaths a day by November.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove this morning said there was going to be a “shift in emphasis” on the Government’s advice about working from home, telling Sky News: “If it is possible for people to work from home then we would encourage them to do so.”
Mr Gove said the Government was taking “reluctant steps” with the new coronavirus measures, but added that they are “absolutely necessary”.
“There will be more details that the Prime Minister will spell out, and again, one of the points that he’ll make is that no one wants to do these things, no one wants to take these steps,” he told Sky News.
“They are reluctant steps that we’re taking, but they are absolutely necessary.
“Because as we were reminded yesterday, and as you’ve been reporting, the rate of infection is increasing, the number of people going to hospital is increasing, and therefore we need to act.”
The change will come in statements made by Boris Johnson today.
He will announce new moves in the House of Commons at 12.30pm then give an address to the nation at 8pm.
At the same time he will announce that all pubs, bars and restaurants will have to close at 10pm each day.
The new Covid restrictions on the hospitality industry would be a “terrible blow” to the sector, prominent Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The people running pubs, owning pubs, these people are in terrible strain.
“And the life line of the bounce back loans and the grants has kept these people, just about, their heads above water, and this will be a terrible blow to them.”
