Boris Johnson has announced a fourth tier has been added to England's coronavirus restrictions, which London and the South East will be placed under the tier from Sunday morning.
The prime minister also said that the previously-announced relaxation of restrictions over the festive period will now be reduced to just Christmas Day.
"We cannot continue with Christmas as planned," said Johnson
Tier 4 will be similar to the second lockdown in England that took place in November. From Sunday morning, people will be told to stay at home, and non-essential retail and gyms will be closed. People will also be told to work from home where possible, and not leave or enter tier 4 areas.
Johnson said the spread of in the South East of England is being driven by the new variant of the disease.
The prime minister said that the new strain was not more lethal, and did not caused more severe illness than the previous strains, but "it may be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant."
All 32 London boroughs and the City of London will go into Tier 4.
In the South East, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings will all movie into the new tier.
In the East of England Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring) will be subject to the new restrictions.
