Boris Johnson promised to underwrite the entire nation's wage bill as he ordered a total shutdown of pubs, restaurants and leisure facilities to save "thousands" of lives.

Anyone who cannot work because of the coronavirus pandemic will be paid 80 per cent of their salary by the Government, capped at £2,500 per month, under an unlimited rescue package "unprecedented in the history of the British state".

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, said the country had reached "a generation-defining moment" as he told businesses he would pick up the bill for anyone “furloughed” by the crisis to remove the need for companies to lay people off.

The Chancellor said it was an open-ended commitment and admitted he had no idea how much it would cost.

The move was vital to protect jobs after the Prime Minister took the UK into uncharted territory by closing all pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, gyms and leisure centres nationwide with immediate effect.

Mr Johnson said the “sacrifice” - unheard of even in wartime - was necessary because "we need to keep people apart" after his pleas for people to avoid social gatherings fell on deaf ears.

The closures will last indefinitely but will be reviewed monthly. Shops will be allowed to remain open for now.