Government confirms shops and businesses to close from Thursday

Downing Street has released a provisional list of what it classes as essential and non-essential

The Government has confirmed what shops and businesses will have to shut their doors from midnight on Thursday morning.

All non-essential retail will have to close for the duration of the second lockdown in England – which will start on Thursday, November 5 and run until December 2.

There are fears the December 2 end date could be extended if the coronavirus rate is not brought down quickly enough.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is determined the lockdown will end on that date.

A spokesman for Downing Street said:: “Non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues will be closed.

“Click and collect services can continue and essential shops, including supermarkets, will remain open, so there is no need for anyone to stockpile.”

The spokesman said the Government will publish full guidance on what constitutes a ‘non-essential’ store by Thursday.

The guidance is expected to replicate March’s lockdown model and the Government has confirmed that the following retailers will be ordered to close:

• Gyms
• Restaurants
• Pubs
• Bars
• Non-essential shops, including electronics and clothing stores
• Hairdressers
• Nail salons
• Spas and beauty bars
• Car showrooms
• Travel agents
• Betting shops
• Auction houses
• Tailors
• Car washes
• Vape shops and tobacconists
• Card shops
• Jewellery stores
• Toy shops
• Homeware shops
• Book shops
• Music shops
• Phone shops

“Pubs, bars, restaurants must close, except for takeaway and delivery services” the statement added.

“People should work from home wherever possible. Workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home – for example, in the construction or manufacturing sectors,” the statement continues.

Public services, such as job centres, courts, and civil registration offices will remain open.

There is no exemption for communal worship in places of worship (except funerals and individual prayer), organised team sports, or children’s activities.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, known as the furlough scheme, will remain open until December, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.

Early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will all remain open.

Driving tests and lessons suspended during second lockdown

Parents will still be able to access registered childcare and other childcare activities where reasonably necessary to enable parents to work. Parents are also able to form a childcare bubble with another household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is 13 or under.

All driving tests and driving lessons will be suspended, but garages will be allowed to remain open for essential repairs, MoTs and services.

It is believed tradespeople will be allowed to continue working in private homes, and construction work will be allowed to continue.

Places allowed to stay open will include supermarkets, garden centers, food shops and opticians.

The list is likely to be updated to include pet shops, hardware stores and pharmacists.

Places that will close include

Hotels, hostels bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments or homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses

• Places of Worship
• Libraries
• Community Centres
• Restaurants, Cafes and Workplace Canteens
• Bars
• Pubs
• Cinemas
• Bingo Halls
• Theatres and concert halls, but no live music
• Museums and galleries
• Hair salons and barbers
• Outdoor gyms
• Funfairs, theme parks and adventure parks and activities
• Amusement arcades
• Outdoor skating rinks
• Other indoor leisure centres or facilities, including indoor games, recreation and entertainment venues
• Social Clubs
• Tourist attractions
• Holiday parks and resorts