Coronavirus impact: 24 March - lockdown
It's official (or not quite), Boris Johnson has put the UK as close to lockdown as he can without actually confining everyone to their homes in a European-style clampdown on movement. We are allowed out of our homes to shop, exercise and go to essential work. Police have the powers to fine people and break up group gatherings of more than two. Businesses have all shut up, apart from the ones whose operations are deemed essential (which includes Sports Direct, according to Mike Ashley!) Here is our rolling update of today's announcements.
Key Sports wearAgainst the backdrop of the closure of gyms, demand for at-home sports equipment has rocketed over the past few days. Mike Ashley has therefore decided that Sports Direct (LON: SPD) is providing essential work to help people through the corona-crisis and that its workers are key workers. For now, Sports Direct stores will remain open despite the government's lockdown. JD Sports (LON: JD.) is far better at playing by the rules than its listed cousin. This morning it has announced that the closure of all its stores will have a big impact on trading for the year. While online is holding…