England is to enter another national Covid-19 lockdown from tonight, which will remain in place for more than a month, the Prime Minister has announced.
In effect, the country will return to the first lockdown in March - with people only allowed to leave their house for essential reasons and the majority of schools closed.
The restrictions are expected to last until at least February 15, with the PM suggesting the country might then be able to start "steadily" moving out of lockdown.
Boris Johnson outlined the strengthened restrictions in a televised address to the nation on Monday, amid warnings the NHS could be overwhelmed within three weeks if action was not taken.
It comes as the number of Covid patients in hospital in England rose to nearly 27,000 - a figure 40% higher than the peak level in April.
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