A 'Tier 5' lockdown could be imposed in England after New Year, as the highly infectious mutated coronavirus strain continues to spread.
The Government's scientific advisers are reported to have urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to keep secondary schools closed in January to try and stop the spread of the virus.
An official 'Tier 5' is unlikely to be created, but measures proposed by scientists go further than the current ones under Tier 4 - reports Mirror Online.
And a Whitehall source said the current Tier 4 rules, which are applied at a regional level, don't appear to be working and harsher measures could be imposed.
The Government could add “another level onto Tier 4, so like a Tier 5”, the source added.
In addition to keeping secondary schools closed, Government scientists have told the Prime Minister to potentially order a stricter national lockdown than the one in November to prevent the crisis from spiralling further out of control, it is reported.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) gave the stark new advice at a meeting last week, an adviser told Politico.
It is speculated that any new restrictions could affect schools or ban people from leaving their homes for non-essential reasons.
Pubs and restaurants in Tier 4 can operate as takeaways, but it is thought that tougher restrictions could see them shut entirely, leaving only essential shops open such as supermarkets and pharmacies.
Under Tier 4 rules, people can meet with one person outside in a public place such as a park. That luxury could be banned under tougher rules, it is predicted.
At the meeting last week, Sage agreed that a January lockdown similar to the one imposed for four weeks in November wouldn't be enough to stop the critical reproduction (R) number from rising further above 1.
In the November shutdown, all non-essential retail was ordered to close but the Government kept schools open. All household mixing indoors and in private gardens was banned.
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Sage's advice was that the R rate might be kept below 1 if schools stay closed in January following the festive break, the adviser said.
British scientists have suggested that the mutated coronavirus strain could more easily infect children.
Sage said shutting secondary schools for the entire month would have a bigger impact than shutting primary schools, it was reported.
In an interview with the Express, a senior Whitehall source warned the Government could add “another level onto Tier 4, so like a Tier 5”.
The source added: “We are ruling nothing out, the new strain is of serious concern. Tier 4 appears to not be strong enough."
Last week, Mr Johnson told reporters that the Government would press ahead with its plan to stagger the reopening of schools "if we possibly can".
But he also refused to rule out a third national lockdown.
