Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a one month national lockdown for England, effective from 5 November and lasting until 2 December. The lockdown will see the closure of non-essential retail, leisure and entertainment venues, as well as bars, pubs and restaurants. Takeaways and deliveries will however be permitted.

There will be a ban on households mixing inside unless for childcare reasons, though schools, colleges and universities can remain open. Johnson has asked the British public to “stay at home” with those travelling for work purposes exempt.

Johnson said: “We’ve got to be humble in the face of nature. The virus is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst case scenario of our scientific advisors. Unless we act we could see deaths running at several thousand a day, one that’s bigger than what we saw in April. Now is the time to take action because there is no alternative.”

In entering a second national lockdown, England joins other countries in Europe that have announced similar country-wide measures such as France and Germany. These restrictions too are in place for four weeks until early December.