Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday that the UK will not be plunged back into a national lockdown - after ruling out an even stricter Tier 5.
Just a day after Independent SAGE said England's Tier 4 restrictions aren't tough enough to control the mutant Covid-19 strain, Hancock confirmed more regions in England will be plunged into tougher restrictions.
After record numbers of daily coronavirus cases and hospitalisations, the Health Secretary revealed he planned to introduce more restrictions across the country - but ruled out a full lockdown like the one in March.
He will announce full details at 3pm in an announcement, but denied he'll be announcing a national lockdown, or a Tier 5.
Hancock told the GMB hosts when asked if more places would be moved into Tier 4: "Yes I am afraid I am going to have to, and I am going to set out those details to the House of Commons first."
While denying there would be a national lockdown, he said: "We're going to have to extend Tier 4 areas."
On Tuesday, a group of scientists warned England is entering its worst moment of the Covid-19 crisis and should immediately be plunged into a national lockdown.
Delaying another shutdown would result in "tens of thousands" of avoidable deaths and cause the NHS to "collapse" while allowing the new coronavirus variant to spread even further out of control, said Independent SAGE.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will also make a statement later today on the return of schools in England.
