primark is the latest uk high street chain to close its doors until further notice. ways of reaching parishioners — on a sunday without church services as usual. hello and welcome to viewers in the uk and around the world. the british prime minister today urged the public again to follow the rules for social distancing to slow the spread of coronavirus. speaking in downing street, he said the government would bring forward further measures if necessary if the two metre rules isn't observed. it comes as one and a half million people at greatest risk are being told they must self—isolate for 12 weeks. the government says it's drawing up plans to deliver food parcels to those without friends, family or neighbours to help them. the number of people who have died in the uk with coronavirus has risen to 281. there have been 5,683 confirmed cases. here's our health editor hugh pym. at his daily press conference, the prime minister first had thanks for nhs staff and those who followed official advice to limit social contact, cancelling mother's day visits for example or sacr

on the high street many stores have been closing their doors — including the fashion chain primark.ondent katy austin. there have been queues at wholesalers and a spike in online shopping. amazon has struggled to keep up with demand for household staples and medical supplies. but non—food shops which rely on walk—in customers have suffered badly. timpson's is closing its 2,000 sites after a 60% fall in sales. we've based our assumptions on the fact that we will be closing our shops for at least three months. we've got to cut costs as quickly as we can but make sure we look after the colleagues who have been with us a long time and to make sure that it is viable for them as well. shops don't have to close but health concerns and lack of trade mean more and more are, from river island tojohn lewis, where shutters will fall across the country on monday night, although its online operation will remain open. now primark is expected to close all 189 of its uk stores tonight and it doesn't have an online offering to full back on. primark has weeks and weeks of stock already on its way to t

in the uk, the fashion chain primark is the latest in a string of high street retailers to temporarily it's its 189 stores from tonight. here's our business correspondent katy austin. there have been queues at wholesalers and a spike in online shopping. amazon has struggled to keep up with demand for household staples and medical supplies. but non—food shops which rely on walk—in customers have suffered badly. timpson's is closing its 2,000 sites after a 60% fall in sales. we have based our assumptions on the fact that we will be closing our shops for at least three months. we've got to cut costs as quickly as we can but make sure we look after the colleagues who have been with us a long time and to make sure that it is viable for them as well. shops don't have to close but health concerns and lack of trade mean more and more are, from river island tojohn lewis, where shutters will fall across the country on monday night, although its online operation will remain open. now primark is expected to close all 189 of its uk stores tonight and it doesn't have an online offering to full back

made the decision to close to protect their staff and customers, so to name a fewjohn lewis, hmv, primarky closed their doors and in fa ct already closed their doors and in fact there were not many shoppers coming in in the first place. from tonight mcdonald's and subway take a ways will also close. as for the list of those that will be able to remain open, defined as vital retailers, we understand they will include supermarkets, pharmacies, funeral homes and also online shops. that is the —— not the entire list but it gives you a sense of the things which are deemed as vital. 0ne things which are deemed as vital. one thing that will also help, some of these businesses that will be under great financial strain, you remember the government said on friday it will pay 80% of staff wages for those affected by these closures. 0k, sarah thank you. jon kay is in bristol— very strictr rules about actaully leaving your house. yes, fiona, right through the sunny weekend and this afternoon, places like this, this park in bristol have been absolutely packed. this afternoon there were kids and familie

primark is the latest uk high street chain to close its doors

and primark, the shop moves to cancel all orders. distribution centre. they are basically not refilling at the moment. some would say, from a business point of view, that is quite wise. if we are talking 12 weeks or more, all the things in the shop right now you probably won't wa nt shop right now you probably won't want in12 shop right now you probably won't want in 12 weeks because they might be winter things. it gives you a sense of how businesses are planning for all of this. following the decision byjohn lewis yesterday to close their stores. we will talk about that later with a retail expert about how businesses coping and planning ahead and making sure people get food they need and other organisations like primark and other organisations like primark and other organisations deciding not to stock up. we're keeping an eye on what is going on in the rest of the world. more than a billion people in india have been asked to observe a 14—hour long curfew to try and combat the coronavirus pandemic. the country's prime minister said i

meanwhile, shares in associated british foods, which owns the retailer primark, have been suspended, or a senior minister will hold daily news briefings. he will also convene another emergency cobra meeting and take part in a video conference call with the other g7 leaders to discuss a co—ordinated global response. this afternoon, the government's expected to issue new guidelines on social distancing and how to protect yourself. as a number of schools take the decision to close, the education secretary, gavin williamson, is meeting headteachers leaders today to discuss their concerns. and in scotland, official advice to cancel all large gatherings of more than 500 people comes into force today. most of the 35 coronavirus—related deaths in the uk have been people aged over 60 and with underlying health conditions. simonjones reports. this is something we are now going to be seeing on a daily basis. the prime minister and senior ministers supported by scientific and medical experts holding briefings following criticism that there has been a lack of transparency over plans to stem the s