Boris Johnson confirms full national lockdown for England

Schools will shut for most pupils from tomorrow onwards

Boris Johnson has announced a full national lockdown for England in his public address this evening. All across the UK, the public have been given a clear 'stay at home' order. Boris Johnson said: "It's clear that we need to do more together to bring this variant under control while our vaccines are rolled out." It is the third full lockdown implemented since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Prime Minister believes this one will last until mid-February at the earliest. It is also hoped that the Covid vaccine will be rolled out to those most in need by mid-February. The top four priority groups for the vaccine are:

• Those in care homes
• The over 70s
• Health and care workers
• The clinically extremely vulnerable.

If all goes to plan, some 13.9 million people will receive a vaccination by the middle of next month. Schools will close for the majority of pupils from tomorrow, with exams also being scrapped until further notice. Online learning will resume in place of school closures. Nurseries have been given special dispensation to stay open, however. There are only five exemptions to the lockdown restrictions:

• For key workers, or for those where home working isn't possible such as in construction
• Essential shop visits for food and medicine
• One exercise per day, to be done locally
• For those providing care for vulnerable people
• To attend medical appointments or to receive medical care

Those under threat of harm or violence may also leave their location in search of help. Earlier today, the UK's four Chief Medical Officers had raised the Covid Alert Level to five, with the NHS on the brink of being overwhelmed according to the Department of Health and Social Care.