More than three quarters of England will be in Tier 4 from midnight tonight after a huge surge in coronavirus triggered a national lockdown in all but name.
Vast parts of the country including the Midlands, North East, parts of the North West and parts of the South West will enter the toughest restrictions from 12.01am on New Year's Eve, Matt Hancock announced.
And Boris Johnson warned they could stay under the toughest rules until April despite a vaccine breakthrough. It means 44.1million people or 78% of England will now be in Tier 4 - which mirrors the rules in the November lockdown.
Another 12.2 million (22%) will be in Tier 3, which forces pubs and restaurants to shut. Just 2,000 people in the Isles of Scilly will remain in Tier 1,
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