Boris Johnson has said the end of England’s third coronavirus lockdown may be delayed beyond mid-February as MPs prepare for a vote on the stringent new restrictions.
The prime minister updated the Commons on the new measures, which include the closure of schools to most pupils and a return to the stay-at-home order, before a vote this evening. The new measures are expected to pass with ease, as they are backed by Labour.
While Mr Johnson has hinted restrictions could be eased from late February, the legislation allows them to remain in place until the end of March.
It comes as the number of daily coronavirus cases in the UK topped 60,000 for the first time, with a further 830 people dying within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday.
During Mr Johnson’s address to the nation last night, England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said people must take the stay-at-home rules seriously, warning the country faced a "really serious emergency".
But in a sign of progress, the prime minister said more than 1.3 million people have been vaccinated against the virus across the UK so far, including 23 per cent of all ove- 80s in England.
