direct to your inbox Around a third of England's population will be placed into a new 'Tier 4' lockdowns, amid concern over a new strain of coronavirus.
The restrictions were announced by Boris Johnson during a televised press conference this afternoon (December 19). During the press conference, the Prime Minister confirmed that the new restrictions would be introduced predominantly in London and the south east - in current Tier 3 areas.
It follows a statement by Professor Chris Whitty, early today, in which the chief medical officer confirmed that a new strain of coronavirus that has been detected in South East England, which can spread more quickly.