Latest coronavirus infection data shows cases are rising in 90 per cent of England's towns and cities - after it was announced more areas are being plunged into Tiers 3 and 4.
Earlier today Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that from Boxing Day a further six million people would face the highest restrictions in a desperate effort to halt the virus.
A new strain has been blamed for a huge upsurge in cases in the South East, with panicked PM Boris Johnson creating the new tier at the weekend.
Thurrock in Essex has the country's highest infection rate, with 1,292.3 cases per 100,000 people - twice the previous week's figure of 608.0.