McDonald's will close all their 1,270 restaurants in UK due to coronavirus

McDonald's will close all 1,270 of its restaurants in the UK by the end of Monday, as fears over the spread of coronavirus escalate.

Nando's has also said it has closed its approximately 400 restaurants in the UK "until further notice".

Coffee chain Costa also joined in closing its UK branches, with more than 2,000 to shut by the end of Monday.

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said restaurants and cafes must close, but exempted take-away food places.

The three chains said they wanted to protect the wellbeing of staff and customers during the coronavirus outbreak.

McDonald's employs around 135,000 people in the UK, the majority of which are on zero-hours contracts.

The chain said staff employed directly by the company would receive full pay for their scheduled hours until 5 April.

By that time it expects the government's financial aid package, announced on Friday, to have kicked in, with staff paid 80% of their wages.

A spokeswoman told the BBC she expected McDonald's franchises, which decide their own pay policies, to follow suit.

Previously, McDonald's had closed its seating areas but had continued to offer takeaway and drive-through services.