Talk of a temporary 'circuit break' lockdown has been on the cards for a while following a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases.
It was first mentioned earlier this month by experts who suggested that it would slow the spread of Covid-19 while buying time for NHS Test and Trace to improve.
Liverpool could be the first place to see the 'circuit break' lockdown as the city's Mayor Joe Anderson believes it could be the way to stop the surge of cases in Liverpool.
The latest figures show that there were 1306 positive covid-19 cases in the most recent 7-day period in Liverpool - an increase of 577 on the week before resulting in a current infection rate of 262.2 per 100,000 people.
But what would a 'circuit break' lockdown entail?
The idea is that a 'circuit breaker' would target areas with local outbreaks and high coronavirus rates, while avoiding a full national lockdown.
The new short-term comprehensive shutdown would see households issued with a complete ban on mixing, as well as the closure of pubs and restaurants but would reportedly only last for two weeks.
It could also mean limits on travel nationwide with the message reverted back to all but essential travel.
However, there is an argument that this could only happen if the government provided specific funding packages for those affected - particularly if all hospitality venues are forced into closure for a second time.
