Govt sets out new BEAT measures Photo by Alice Mascarenhas 8th January 2021 The latest BEAT 5.0 measures were announced on Friday, aimed at providing financial support and “certainty in cashflow terms” particularly for businesses that were required to close at the end of December. Restaurants and bars were initially required to close in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 before the Christmas season, but all non-essential retailers, hair and beauty salons, and gyms were required to close shortly after. “As we continue this work in dealing with the pandemic and finalise our plans for the rollout of the vaccine, it is important also that we work to provide security and support for our business community for our entrepreneurs and for our wealth creators,” Chief Minister Fabian Picardo told reporters on Friday.