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Boris Johnson will make a television address tonight to establish “additional steps” to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The prime minister is expected to speak at 8 pm, while the House of Commons will be pulled out of its current recess to sit on Wednesday amid calls for a third national shutdown in England.
COVID Updates Live As PM To Address The Nation
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‘Hard, hard weeks ahead’
A spokesperson for Number 10 said: “The spread of the new variant of COVID-19 has led to a rapid increase in the number of cases across the country.
“The prime minister is clear that further action must now be taken to stop this increase and protect the NHS and save lives.”
“He will leave you tonight.”
Earlier on Monday Mr. Johnson had warned “There is no doubt that we will have to take tougher measures” and promised that the government “will do everything possible to keep the virus under control.”
On a visit to a vaccination center as the national launch of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine began, the prime minister said there were “tough, tough” weeks ahead in the UK’s fight against COVID-19.
He spoke shortly before Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that a nationwide lockdown will be introduced in Scotland starting at midnight tonight.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday demanded a national lockdown in England within 24 hours.
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was defeated in the Conservative leadership by Johnson in 2019, also called for action “immediately” in a bid to ease “off-scale” pressures on hospitals.
Hunt, now chairman of the House of Commons health committee, wants all schools closed, international travel stopped and all mixing at home banned.
“In the face of exponential growth, even waiting another day causes many preventable deaths,” he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and London Mayor Sadiq Khan are also among those who have called for a third shutdown in England.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock did not rule out a new national lockdown for England during an interview with Sky News on Monday.
He warned that the new variant of the coronavirus was “much easier to catch,” and the effect is now seen in “many different parts of the country.”
On Sunday, the UK recorded more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases for the sixth day in a row, as the total number of deaths from COVID-19 exceeded 75,000.
In a note sent to MPs on Monday, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle revealed that the House of Commons will meet starting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday to hear a statement from Mr. Johnson and discuss public health regulations.
“Based on my advice on the previous recall, I strongly recommend that you DO NOT physically come to Westminster to engage in any business unless absolutely necessary due to the current dire public health situation,” Sir Lindsay said.
