Pub and restaurant owners have claimed that the only reason the Government did not order a widespread closure on Monday was because doing so would trigger thousands of insurance payouts. However, the ABI, which represents the industry, said that the vast majority of British businesses will not have purchased cover that "will enable them to claim on their insurance to compensate for their business being closed by the coronavirus". "A small minority of typically larger firms might have purchased an extension to their cover for closure due to any infectious disease. On Monday, Boris Johnson issued a stark warning to the public, urging people to avoid all social contact where possible. British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: "I cannot emphasise strongly enough how critical it is that action is taken now.

Source: Daily Mirror March 17, 2020 12:19 UTC