More areas face Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions as government says ‘further action’ being considered

Ministers to meet today to make decision

More areas could face the fate of London and the south east (Getty Images)

More areas of England are set to face Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions amid a government warning that "further action" may be necessary to control the disease.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Wednesday morning that the government would not hesitate to further tighten festive restrictions in other areas of the country.

A decision on the extension of the toughest controls is reportedly expected as early as this afternoon at a meeting of ministers in Whitehall.

Under Tier 4, retail shops must close and family gatherings and travel are further restricted. New measures could come in as early Boxing Day, it has been reported.

"We don't have a timetable for that. The Government's Covid operations committee is meeting later today to review further evidence," Mr Jenrick told Sky News.

"We keep this under review, we are constantly hearing from our scientific advisers about what we should do."

The communities secretary described the new variant as "very concerning" and said it was "prevalent probably in most regions of the country".

Genomic researchers have reportedly identified that the new coronavirus variant, which researchers say is 70 per cent more virulent based on early evidence, has already spread to other parts of the UK. Cases have been identified in Wales and Scotland.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has written to the Prime Minister to say his party would back any Government moves to tighten restrictions if that is what scientists recommended the government does.

But existing Tier 4 measures were introduced after the start of the parliamentary recess, meaning they have not yet been subject to a vote.

On Wednesday the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that local leaders and health officials in Birmingham met overnight to discuss the possibility of the city being moved into Tier 4. Areas in lower tiers could be moved up to Tier 3.

Other areas that could see their restrictions upgraded reportedly include parts of Sussex, Rugby, Burnley, Lincoln, and Stoke-on-Trent.