Coronavirus live updates as businesses make cost-cutting measures to survive

Our live blog will bring you rolling news coverage throughout the day, keeping you informed with breaking news from across Bristol.

Scroll down for the latest updates as Covid-19 begins to effect more daily life.

6.20pm
Bristol Libraries retract their previous statement, announcing that all libraries will be closed from Thursday until further notice.

5.58pm
Bristol Cathedral remains open.

5.55pm
Fairfield High School will be partially closed from tomorrow. Headteacher Nick Lewis said: “Tomorrow we are only open to Year 10, Year 11 and those in care in all year groups. All other students in Years 7, 8 and 9 are to remain at home. This will be the case until further notice.  This will ensure that we are able to provide the best possible service to as many students as we are able.”

5.24pm
Chancellor announces £330bn of guaranteed loans for UK businesses hit by the coronavirus.

5.13pm
It has been confirmed that Bristol Flyers’ remaining fixtures have been postponed until further notice.

5.12pm
British Cycling has suspended all of its cycling activities, initially until April 30. Bristol should be unaffected unless there are any further developments as the next ride, Over The Bridge To Chepstow, is due to take place on May 1.

4.43pm
Arnolfini announces the  closure of its galleries for the time being. The organisation is also postponing all events.

4.16pm
Bristol Poetry Festival cancels the remainder of events planned.

4.12pm
The University of Bristol will hold a Facebook Live event tomorrow to discuss the institution’s plans.

3.50pm
Suzanne Rolt, CEO of St George’s has issued the following statement: “In accordance with UK Government guidance, and with the safety of our audience, staff and artists of paramount concern, I regret to announce that St George’s Bristol is now closed until at least Monday, April 20.  This closure includes the Concert Hall, Box Office and Cafe-Bar.

“All concerts and events at St George’s Bristol up until April 20 are cancelled or postponed.”

The Jam Jar has also asked the public for their opinions regarding the venue’s closure.

3.02pm
Festival of international contemporary theatre, Mayfest, has been cancelled.

https://twitter.com/mayfestbristol/status/1239926674206179328

2.09pm
Friday’s emergency full council meeting on the future of Bristol Energy has been postponed following an offer to delay it from opposition councillors who called the meeting.

2.06pm
The National Trust-owned house at Tyntesfield will close for the remainder of March.

Photo courtesy of the National Trust

2.04pm
The Bank’s Tavern’s pub quiz will be going ahead as usual this evening.

2.02pm
Local MP Thangham Debbonaire speaks on Politics Live.

1.55pm
While major cinema chains and indies alike are shutting their doors, the Curzon in Clevedon is determiend to remain open as long as possible. “The cinema is still going, with many extra precautions in place and limited screenings until we are officially told to shut down,” they said. “This is not an easy decision to make.”

1.52pm
Foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has advised the public to avoid non-essential travel anywhere in the world for at least 30 days.

1.33pm
St Nick’s Night Market on March 27 is the latest Bristol event to be postponed die to the coronavirus. Organisers said: “We wish you all a lot of love, hope and strength for the days ahead and look forward to seeing you all in better times.”

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12.53pm
Bristol artist Luke Jerram has created a glass sculpture of what the Covid-19 virus looks like when magnified by a factor of two million. He was commissioned to create the sculpture eight weeks ago before the start of the pandemic.

12.39pm
Mayor Marvin Rees has recorded a video update from City Hall on the current situation in Bristol.

12.28pm
St George’s has closed until further notice.

11.57am
Cinemas across Bristol are closing for the time being.

The Odeon chain has closed its cinemas, including Union Street, with immediate effect “until further notice”. The Cineworld chain has now announced the closure of all its cinemas including Hengrove Park from tomorrow.

11.56am
The Festival of Care has been postponed.

11.23am
All of the Bristol Festival of Ideas’ events have been cancelled up until May 1.

11.13am
The SS Great Britain has postponed their event on April 1, marking the 50th anniversary of the SS Great Britain’s return to Bristol, but hope to celebrate later in the year.

Their outdoor photography exhibition will open as planned however on the April 4.

Brunel’s SS Great Britain returned to Bristol in July 1970, with 40th anniversary events due to take place this year – photo courtesy of SS Great Britain

11.09am
Tobacco Factory Theatres have shut and cancelled all events. The company is working hard reschedule upcoming performances, and are asking for donations.

11.08am
Bristol Old Vic has suspended all performances until the end of April, saying “this is a very difficult thing for a theatre to do, but the circumstances are unprecedented”.

11.04am
All cinema screenings and events at Watershed are now cancelled.

10.54am
Bristol’s live venues respond to the COVID-19 measures: Bristol music venues fear Johnson has ‘signed the death warrant’ for their industry

10.52am:
Bristol City Council is encouraging those who can to volunteer. There are also community groups set up on Facebook and WhatsApp.

10.40am
The Wardrobe Theatre are postponing all shows. They are encouraging people to donate.

10.36am
First West of England is making plans to run a Saturday service during the working week from March 23.

James Freeman, managing director of First West of England, said: “The Government has made it clear that it now wants people, wherever possible, to work from home and avoid any non-essential travel and contact.

The number of people travelling has reduced significantly and is continuing to diminish, making this an extremely dynamic situation which is changing day to day, hour to hour. By way of bringing some order to the situation we are looking to reduce our Monday to Friday services to a Saturday timetable. This will mean that about ten per cent of our fleet will be stood down.

“In addition, we are working closely with our trade union leaders and will do everything possible to deploy staff across our operations with a view to minimising the impacts for everybody. One way or another, we will endeavour to keep services running through this unprecedented time of uncertainty.”

10.14am
All libraries remain open, but activities and events are suspended until further notice. All adult events are cancelled, as are Storytime, Baby Bounce and Rhyme and Rhymetime.

10.09am
Young Bristol confirms that its Hartcliffe Club will be closed for the time being.

9.28am
The number of cases in Bristol has risen to seven, according to Public Health England.

9.24am
Bristol Film Festival has postponed, but not cancelled, all its events from March 19 to April 23. The organisers said that “if you have a ticket for any of the affected events listed below, we will contact you via email shortly with further information on the rescheduled date and how the ticket transfer will work. Events from 15th May onwards are currently still going ahead and ticket sales will remain live. If the situation changes nearer these events then we will update you accordingly, and will have contingency plans in place.”

These are the screenings effected:

• Back To The Future, Bristol Museum, Thursday, March 19
• Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Bristol Museum, Thursday, March 19
• Catch Me If You Can, Aerospace Bristol, Friday, March 20
• Master And Commander, SS Great Britain, Thursday, March 26
• WALL•E, we the curious, Friday March 27
• The Matrix, we the curious, Friday, March 27
• Ruthless, Averys Wine Merchants, Wednesday, April 1
• A Fistful Of Dollars, Clifton College, Thursday, April 9
• Passport To Pimlico, Averys Wine Merchants, Thursday, April 23

The Bristol Bad Film Club has also just postponed its next two screenings, both of which were sold out, saying: “Oh, how we chortled at the coincidence of programming Birdemic: Shock and Terror, just as a global pandemic was about to sweep the globe! Well, now things have got a bit more serious…”

8.19am
The Colston Hall will release an update today regarding their forthcoming events. The main venue remains closed for a major refurbishment, but outdoor shows from Chic and Belle & Sebastian are due to take place in July on the Lloyds Amphitheatre.

7.40am
People still need their morning coffee fix.

https://twitter.com/friskafood/status/1239818878219419648

7.29am
Courts will be operating normally today, with jurors advised to attend Bristol Crown Court as per their summons.

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7.07am
Should restaurants close or not? The Cauldron on Mina Road in St Werburgh’s is remaining open but has completely changed their business model.

They tweeted: “We are in the position where our financial commitments are real and need fulfilling. We employ 10 people and their livelihoods depend on us. This doesn’t change with a pandemic. We have some small independent suppliers who rely on us to pay bills so they can survive, we have loan repayments and a mortgage to pay.

The Cauldron hopes “to provide a service that aids the community not endangers it” – photo by Martin Booth

“As a result, we are thinking outside of the box. We are starting to dispense food and sundries for consumption at home. These items will be available to collect from the restaurant daily.

“We will have precooked, reheatable and healthy ready meals in the usual Cauldron style and format, so you can get your smokey fix at home… We will have freshly baked bread. We have over 400 loo rolls. We are bagging up pasta & rice. We will sell wine and beer. We’ve even got charcoal & BBQ packs if you are isolating in this spring weather.

“Essentially, we need your business and we hope to provide a service that aids the community not endangers it. We are open to ideas if you have them. Please appreciate we are doing what we can to survive!”

6.30am
Good morning and welcome to Tuesday’s live blog as we report on all of the latest news about the Covid-19 outbreak in Bristol.

Yesterday evening, theatregoers were turned away from the Hippodrome and the Old Vic cancelled the press night of their new production of Red Lion as the hospitality industry began to take the brunt of Boris Johnson’s first daily news conference.

The prime minister urged everyone to avoid unnecessary social contact, to work from home where possible, and to stay away from pubs and restaurants.

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In other developments:

• Bristol North West MP Darren Jones has gone into self-isolation after one of his family showed symptoms of coronavirus.
• Bristol24/7 understands that buses will be running a Sunday service from today.
• Major upcoming events including the Jazz & Blues Festival and Bristol Beer Festival have been postponed.
• UWE Bristol is suspending all teaching for today.
• Bristol Bears will not play for at least five weeks as the rugby Premiership is suspended.
• Restaurants including Box-E in Wapping Wharf and Marmo on Baldwin Street have made the decision to close.

Main photo by Martin Booth

Read more: A pint in the Orchard Inn after the PM advises people not to visit pubs