More than a third of the UK population are now under heightened coronavirus restrictions, as further measures have been implemented in the north of England.
Tougher restrictions aimed at curbing a rise in infection rates were introduced in Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough at midnight on Saturday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said action was needed after 268 cases per 100,000 people were recorded in Liverpool. It is now illegal for households to mix indoors.
In Middlesbrough, independent mayor Andy Preston initially appeared to reject the rules, saying: “As things stand we defy the Government and we do not accept these measures.”
But it was later clarified that he will urge people and business to comply with the regulations.
On Saturday, Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said the Government wanted to ease local lockdowns “as soon as it was safe to do so”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “We have had to put in restrictions that none of us would naturally want to do, certainly not on the Conservative benches.
“In other political parties it may be something different but on the Conservative side, these are things that we would not necessarily want to do but we have to in order to protect people’s lives.
“And that means you take actions which you find uncomfortable and I think actually the big difference is that we will look to relieve those restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Meanwhile, local lockdowns also came into force in Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy and Wrexham in North Wales from 6pm on Thursday.
In Northern Ireland, Londonderry and nearby town of Strabane will face new restrictions next week, with hospitality businesses reduced to takeaway, delivery and outdoor dining.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for a “rapid review” of the local lockdown strategy and urged the Government to consider whether the 10pm curfew should remain.
Proposals being considered in Whitehall could see a simpler, three-tiered approach to local restrictions, but these have yet to be finalised.
Mr Hancock defended the 10pm curfew in pubs and restaurants but promised to do “whatever we can” to support the hospitality industry.
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