PET shops, home and hardware shops and corner shops are among just a handful of businesses that can stay open during the coronavirus pandemic.
The government has released the full list of 'non-essential' businesses that must remain shut for at least three weeks as a result of the Prime Minister's decision last night.
The list also includes notable 'exceptions' to the rule where businesses operating to serve essential purposes will be allowed to continue trading:
Shops
All retail stores including car showrooms, auction houses, hair, beauty and nail salons, piercing and tattoo parlours and massage parlours 'must' remain closed - retail stores can remain open if they provide following services:
- Supermarkets and other food shops
- Health shops
- Pharmacies including nondispensing pharmacies
- Petrol stations
- Bicycle shops
- Home and hardware shops
- Laundrettes and dry cleaners
- Garages
- Car rental services
- Pet shops
- Corner shops
Hotels
All hotels, hostels, campsites, boarding houses, caravan parks and B&Bs have been ordered to close by the government but there is an exception for those in the following categories:
- Key workers can continue to stay in hotels
- If people live there while their primary home is unavailable
- Those who live permanently in caravan parks can remain to do so
Leisure businesses
All museums and galleries, bingo halls, casinos and betting shops, spas, kating rinks, fitness studios, gyms, swimming pools or other indoor leisure centres including: arcades, bowling alleys and soft play centres must now close.
Enclosed spaces in parks, including playgrounds, sports courts and pitches and outdoor gyms or similar must follow the same closure rules.
Restaurants and takeaways
Boris Johnson previously ordered all pubs, restaurants and cafes to close in order to reduce the number of people flaunting social distancing measures. Takeaways were allowed to remain open provided they excercised caution when allowing people into their stores.
Under current guidance this advice has remained the same.
Libraries, community centres and funerals
The new rules means libraries must remain closed. Community centres and youth centres must remain closed unless providing one of the following services:
- Open as a food bank
- Offering homeless services
All places of worship must close. Funerals are permitted if those attending excercise social distancing guidance. The government says places of worship should remain open but for solitary prayer.
When will the businesses reopen?
A government spokesperson said: "We are asking the businesses and premises and other venues outlined above not to open for trade from close of trade 23 March 2020.
"The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible."
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