PM tells businesses to "stick by staff" ahead of support package for workers

Speaking last night he said it was “vital” the Government stands behind companies amid the Coronavirus outbreak and added that the UK could “turn the tide” on the virus within 12 weeks.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak met with business groups and unions yesterday and will join the Prime Minister at the daily press conference today to announce measures to help employees.

“It’s important everybody understands we will stick by businesses and I hope businesses will stick by employees,” said Johnson.

UKHospitality has been calling for support for workers with the industry facing the loss of more than a million jobs as restaurants, pubs and bars shut down.

The trade body's CEO Kate Nicholls tweeted: "Hospitality businesses are collapsing because they have no income and it is a daily deteriorating situation. A tide of redundancies is sweeping through the sector and every day's delay [on Government support] sees more."

Speaking in Downing Street, the Prime Minister reiterated advice for people to “avoid gatherings where you may pick up the disease” in pubs, bars and restaurants.

But he did not rule out imposing tougher measures, such as forced closure, on hospitality businesses.

Johnson said: “We’re guided by the science and whether we think the advice is working. As long as we think people are staying away from places they may transmit and pick up disease…if we feel it isn’t working we will bring in tougher measures.”

He added that the Government "may have to consider going further" with measures in London, but ruled out shutting public transport.