Tough new lockdown rules for parts of the north of England could have to be in place until Christmas, a minister said.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said that tough new coronavirus restrictions may be needed until after the festive season.
Boris Johnson is due to set out a new three-tier system of controls for England in the Commons later on Monday, which come into effect on Wednesday.
Parts of the North, including the City of Liverpool region, are expected to be placed in the highest tier, which could lead to pubs and gyms closing and limits on travel and social contacts.
It's understood that Manchester's local leaders are still in discussions over Greater Manchester's status.
The leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese told the BBC, as he said they hoped to remain in Tier 2.
Mr Johnson will chair the emergency Cobra committee this morning, before addressing the Commons this afternoon.
Mr Dowden told Sky News: "If those measures are successful we hope to be able to take areas out of those high levels of restrictions.
"The purpose of doing this is to ensure we get the virus under control so by the time that we get through to after Christmas we are in that position where it is under control.
"Indeed I hope it will be sooner than that."
Dr Lance Turtle, senior lecturer in infectious diseases at Liverpool University, told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme the virus is moving from the young healthy population to the over 65s and we are now seeing a rise in hospital admissions.
In the city, we will see similar numbers that we did in the first peak "in a few week's time", he warned.
"I think the simple fact is this virus spreads when people come into contact. Wherever that happens, the virus is not going to differentiate with that.
"Inevitably when you prevent people to come together to prevent spread, you have an economic impact.
"Anything that you can do to keep people apart will reduce transmission."
