Boris Johnson

When did Johnson request the closure of pubs, restaurants, gyms, and galleries?

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a serious crisis within the first few months of Johnson’s second term and gaining the 2019 majority. On 20 March 2020, Johnson requested the closure of pubs, restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues, museums and galleries that evening, though with some regret, saying "We’re taking away the ancient, inalienable right of free-born people of the United Kingdom to go to the pub". On 23 March, this was strengthened into a "stay at home" order throughout the UK, except for a few limited purposes, backed up by new legal powers for a period of up to 2 years. The UK was amongst the last major European states to progressively encourage social distancing, close schools, ban public events and order a lockdown.


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