Everybody loves bookshops. But during a global pandemic, keeping them open only increases the chance of spreading the disease to vulnerable people.

Now is the time to put public health before corporate profits - so why is Waterstones managing director James Daunt asking the government for a special exemption from the rules to stay open?

Healthcare staff are working overtime and thanking people for staying at home, a vital strategy in the fight to prevent the spread of the covid-19 virus. In the UK, the government is advising everyone to follow social distancing rules and remain isolated as much as possible.

We need businesses to start obeying these rules like the rest of us, and closing wherever possible. Bookshops, however great, are not a vital service. Subjecting employees to these avoidable hazards not only puts them at risk, but increases the chance of spreading the virus further. 

Although demand may be high, it's crucial we listen to the experts and put people before profits at this hugely important time. That's why we're calling on James Daunt to close his bookshops, pay his staff in full, and safeguard the wellbeing of workers, the public, and of the NHS staff who are working tirelessly at this time.

SIGN THE PETITION AND TELL JAMES DAUNT TO CLOSE WATERSTONES AND HELP PROTECT THE PUBLIC