By Nora Garcia

Millions of people in the UK lost their jobs as coronavirus cases in the country continue to increase.

Food brands, restaurants, pubs and stores are closing due to the spread of the virus. Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, ordered the closure of pubs and restaurants in the UK last Friday.

Some of the big brands such as McDonald’s, Nandos, Primark and John Lewis are closing their stores in the country in order to contribute to the national plan to slow the number of cases.

Paul Pomroy, McDonald’s UK boss, told the BBC: ”Over the last 24 hours, it has become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants is increasingly difficult and therefore we have taken the decision to close every restaurant in the UK and Ireland by 7pm on Monday 23 March.”

A large number of students along the UK have already lost their jobs. One of their biggest concerns is wether they will keep their position or not; or how they will generate money once they will come back to the University.

Students are the most vulnerable in this situation, specially because enterprises are reducing their workforce and part time contracts are the first ones to be cut off.

Zainab Arowoshere, a Nigerian student in the UWS is worried about her current part-time job.

Cameron McCririe, a SRUC student lost his job at Debenhams (Ayr) last Saturday. He worked for three and a half years, said: ”It’s quite annoying, it’s almost 400 pounds, a month that’s a huge loss. Thankfully, I’m living at home with my parents but if I was living in a flat by myself, it could have made me go homeless.”

The UK government announced last Friday that they have put in motion plans to aid the UK workforce by making sure they will be given 80% off their salary for those who were kept by their employer.

For further information on guidance for current employers and employees visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19

For the latest about COVID-19 in the UWS visit https://www.uws.ac.uk/about-uws/coronavirus-covid-19-information/