Pubs and restaurants were not ordered to close but people were told to stay away

Insurers have been accused of “abdicating responsibility” after they said that most businesses would not be covered for the catastrophic costs of disruption related to coronavirus

The industry said that business interruption policies would not apply even if the government ordered restaurants, bars, theatres and other companies to close to tackle the pandemic.

Instead, insurers called on the government to act as an “insurer of last resort” to help companies facing ruin.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, a trade body, said: “The insurance industry has abdicated responsibility for the thousands of hospitality venues who have bought policies in good faith and who, through no fault of their own are unable to trade.”

On Monday Boris Johnson was criticised when he told people to