Boris orders all the country's pubs, restaurants, bars, theatres and gyms to close

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered all pubs, bars and restaurants to shut down tonight in a dramatic lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The Prime Minister told a press conference that social premises that also include theatres, cinemas, gyms and sports centres must close 'as soon as they reasonably can and not to reopen tomorrow'.

A sombre-looking PM said that measures outlined on Monday for people to voluntarily self-isolate now had to go further as he ordered premises to close their doors.

 “I know it has been difficult ... but these actions we are taking together are helping to take the strain off the NHS,” he said. 

“We are telling - telling - cafes pubs, bars and restaurants to close tonight and not to open tomorrow... 

“Today for now at least physically we need to keep people apart. 

“We will review the situation each month to see if we can relax some of these measures. You may think that you are invincible, out there is no guarantee you will get mild symptoms, and you can still be a carrier.”

A swathe of newly-released evidence presented to ministers suggests that the fate of the PM's plan rests on convincing enough people to fall into line.  

Other venues that could be subjected to closure orders from authorities include any cinemas and gyms that have yet to shut their doors to customers.