Car rental is exempt from retail business closure

The Government has today published guidance on business closure following the introduction of new measures confirming that all retail outlets selling non-essential goods must close immediately to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The following retail businesses, including vehicle rental, are exempt from closure: Supermarkets and other food shops, health shops, pharmacies including non-dispensing pharmacies, petrol stations, bicycle shops, home and hardware shops, laundrettes and dry cleaners, garages, car rentals, pet shops, corner shops, newsagents, post offices, and banks.

UK in lockdown to mitigate virus spread

At 8.30pm yesterday (23 March) the Prime Minister announced that UK citizens must stay at home and only leave their home for the following reasons:

• shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
• one form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household;
• any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and
• travelling to and from work, but only where this is ‘absolutely necessary’ and cannot be done from home. All workers must work from home unless it is impossible for them to do so.

The Government is not saying that the construction industry stops at this point.

Full guidance on staying at home has been published on the Gov.UK website.

Read the Prime Minister’s speech in full here.