UK LOCKDOWN
What time does the UK coronavirus lockdown start?
ENGLAND has been plunged into lockdown from tonight as Boris Johnson announced a raft of coronavirus restrictions.
Brits are only allowed to leave their home for shopping, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from work - but only if this cannot be done from home.
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What time will the coronavirus lockdown start?
In a televised address to the nation at 8pm on Monday, January 4, Boris Johnson announced that England has entered a nationwide shutdown from tonight.
Mr Johnson warned: "It’s both frustrating and alarming to see the speed that the new variant is spreading.
"It’s clear we need to do more together to bring the new variant under control while out vaccines are rolled out. In England we must therefore go into a national lockdown."
Although the PM told Brits to follow the new rules immediately, it will be 24 hours until they come into law.
What are the new lockdown rules in England?
The PM ordered the country to "stay at home" until February in a desperate bid to "protect the NHS and to save lives";.
Brits are only allowed to leave home for work, medical reasons, exercise, shopping or providing care to the vulnerable.
Unlike the shutdown in November, both primary and secondary schools will be closed and learning will resort to online.
They will remain shut until after the February half-term break.
Nurseries will remain open, as will special schools.
Non-essential retail throughout the country have been forced to close but supermarkets will remain open.
Takeaway pints are banned but take-away food - including coffees and McDonalds - will be allowed to operate as usual.
Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres have been forced to close but people are allowed to exercise outdoors for as long as they want.
Outdoor sports venues must close but playgrounds will remain open.
You will still be able to move homes under the new guidelines but you should not mix outside your support bubble.
Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work. If you are looking to move, you can go to property viewings.
It has already been announced that the furlough scheme will continue until April at 80 per cent pay.
The "clinically extremely vulnerable" have been advised to shield and government letters will be sent out in due course.
International travel is banned for the lockdown period - except for work purposes.
School meal vouchers will continue in some form but the government are ironing out details.
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When will lockdown end?
Brits have been advised to stay at home until mid-February.
But if the measures do not bring infection rates down, the lockdown period could be extended.
The UK's chief medical officers warned that the NHS risks being overwhelmed within three weeks.
"We are not confident that the NHS can handle a further sustained rise in cases and without further action there is a material risk of the NHS in several areas being overwhelmed over the next 21 days," they said.
The last nationwide lockdown, which came into force on November 5, remained in place until December 2 where England reverted back to the tiered system.
London then went into Tier 4 restrictions from midnight on December 20 while vast swathes of the country entered the most stringent measures on December 30.
Nicola Sturgeon plunged Scotland into lockdown earlier on January 4 with measures to remain in place until the end of the month.
The First Minister told MSPs she was more concerned right now than at any point since March.
It comes as the UK recorded 58,784 covid cases - its highest ever daily figure - as new infections passed the 50,000 mark for the seventh day in a row.
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Cases have remained high for a week now as hospitals struggle to cope with patients numbers - with 407 new deaths reported on January 4.
A total of 75,431 people have now died since the start of the pandemic, with 2,713,563 cases reported.
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