Pubs and restaurants will be forced to close and people from different households will be banned from meeting as ministers battle rising coronavirus infections rates following repeated criticism that existing rules are too complicated.
Areas with the highest infection rates would be classed as red, and will face the harshest rules.These are expected to include Manchester, Liverpool, Knowsley, Nottingham, Newcastle and Leeds, where the number of people testing positive have soared in the past two weeks.Measures are expected to include the compulsory closure of hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants while mixing between households will not be allowed.Medium-risk areas - or the 'middle tier' - are expected to be hit by a ban on.