The UK is poised for another round of tough new coronavirus restrictions - including the possible closure of pubs and restaurants across the north of England - amid fears the disease is spiralling out of control.
The new lockdown measures, which Boris Johnson could announce as early as Monday, are reportedly planned for areas where coronavirus cases have recently soared, such as Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. The move could be another body blow for the hard-pressed hospitality industry, which has already ben hit by the controversial 10pm curfew.
It comes as Government scientific adviser Professor John Edmunds said a “circuit breaker” lockdown was needed immediately to avoid many hospitalisations and coronavirus deaths, adding: “I would rather we did it right now, and we took the pain right now.”
Meanwhile, a decision on tightening restrictions in London could possibly come within the next two weeks. The capital has recorded more than 6,200 cases in the most recent week, new figures show.
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