McDonald’s was the latest in a string of chains to announce they would be closing their doors to customers. Paul Pomroy, chief executive of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said he was “proud of employees” who had taken “every step” to keep customers safe.

He said: “We have not taken this decision lightly and know that our restaurants have been playing an important role in the community providing hundreds of thousands of free drinks to frontline health and social workers and emergency service personnel.

“But I have been clear throughout this that we would only continue to operate whilst it was safe for our people and together with our franchisees, we feel now is the time to make this decision to temporarily close.”

Mr Pomroy added that it had “become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants was increasingly difficult”.

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Will garden centres have to close too?

Garden centres should close under Government guidelines, which states that only businesses providing essential items, like food and medication, should stay open.

Depending on where you are, it’s best to contact your local garden centre and ask for their individual coronavirus opening policies, as they differ from company to company.

Gardening firm Dobbies has come under fire today after making the decision to stay open despite the Government’s new rules.

In a statement, Dobbies said: “The latest Government guidance has stated food, home and hardware, and pet shops should continue to operate to provide essential goods.

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“We are committed to serving the communities we operate in and will only be selling essential items from our foodhalls, home and hardware and pet departments.

“Only a limited number of customers will be permitted in the store at any one time to help ensure everyone remains two metres apart.

“Staff will serve at alternate tills and will only take card or contactless payments.”

What changes to everyday life will we see under lockdown?

Under the new Government lockdown measures, implemented last night by the Prime Minister, people will only be allowed out of their homes to shop for essential items like food and medicine, to go to work if they are a key worker, or to get one form of exercise a day.

Travelling by car, train and bus have all been banned unless you need to use public transport to get to work.

The Prime Minister also announced that the police will have increased powers, and will now be able to fine people up to £1,000 if they fail to isolate at home.

They also have increased powers to disperse public gatherings of more than two people, which are now also banned.

Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock said people were “very selfish” by engaging in public gatherings while risking lives of NHS workers and vulnerable individuals in society.

Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “By helping spread the virus they slow down our ability to stop it. It means all these measures are going to have to be in place for longer.

“If you follow the rules you are helping the country to get through this as quickly as possible.”

The Prime Minister explained the reason for the lockdown, citing that it would take the strain off the NHS.

He said: “With the time you buy – simply by staying at home – we are increasing our stocks of equipment.

“We are accelerating our search for treatments and pioneering work on a vaccine. And we are buying million of test kits that will enable us to turn the tide on this invisible killer.”

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