The Prime Minister said the army would be deployed on the streets of Blackburn and Bolton to help surge testing efforts after a rise in the Indian Covid variant.
Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference that there will also be an acceleration of the vaccine rollout there, including longer opening hours at vaccination centres.
He also urged people to “think twice” ahead of travelling to areas with higher incidences of the Indian variant - and staying with family and friends within those areas.
Mr Johnson said: “If you’re seeing loved ones, think really carefully about the risk to them, especially if they haven’t had that second dose or if it hasn’t yet had time to take full effect."
He added: “I want us to trust people to be responsible, and to do the right thing. That’s the way to live with this virus while protecting the NHS and restoring our freedoms.
“It’s very clear now we’re going to have to live with this new variant of the virus for some time so let’s work together, and let’s exercise caution and common sense.”
