A second national lockdown could be enforced over England as soon as this Wednesday, according to reports in the national media.
A report by The Times claims a national lockdown could come in just a matter of days. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is expected to hold a press conference on Monday.
More than eight million people are currently living under Tier 3 local restrictions – the most severe set of constraints placed on regions across the UK.
The news follows a worrying rise in hospital admissions with the disease.
In Nottinghamshire alone, there have been more than 300 COVID-19 related admissions across Nottinghamshire, excluding Bassetlaw, between October 19 and October 27.
361 beds were occupid by covid patients as of October 27 – 7.8 per cent were being given mechanically ventilated support.
According to The Times, Boris Johnson is “considering” implementing the new lockdown as early as Wednesday.
Everything would be forced to close, but educational settings such as universities would remain open.
The Daily Mail, meanwhile, describes the move as the “only way to save Christmas”.
It is expected that any restrictions could last for a month, remaining in place until December 1.
Speaking to The Times, an un-named senior government source said: “The data is really bad. We’re seeing coronavirus rising all over the country and hospitals are struggling to cope.
“There has been a shift in our position.”
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The government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) proposed a two-week circuit breaker in mid-September, which the leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, supported a few weeks ago.
In the last 24 hours, the UK has recorded 24,405 new cases of coronavirus.
There have been a further 274 deaths, taking the total number of UK covid-19 related deaths to 46,229.
By Matt Lee
Lead Image: Pippa Fowles / No 10 Downing Street