Strict lockdowns across all four nations of the UK which came into force in late December and early January are set to continue in the coming weeks.
New, more transmissible variants of the virus have “changed the situation we’re in very substantially”, according to England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty.
What are the current rules across the different nations of the UK?
England
Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a third national lockdown for England on January 4 (Justin Tallis/PA)
On January 4, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a national lockdown for England, with a plan to “get our lives back to as close to normal as possible” being published in mid-February.
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Many experts believe the implementation of several lockdowns means national lockdowns are generally not effective in stopping the spread of coronavirus.
Professor Michaelis however disagrees and believes strict restrictions are an important and effective way to keep Covid-19 under control.
The molecular medicine professor told Express.co.uk: “In my opinion, a strict national lockdown is a good first step to bring the number of cases under control.
“In an ideal scenario, the whole world would have gone into a lockdown when SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes Covid-19, was discovered at the end of 2019.
“At this time, there was probably a window of opportunity, during which a worldwide lockdown could have eradicated this new disease for good.
Bomb scare at Covid vaccine factory in Wrexham leads to arrest of Chatham man suspected of sending suspicious package
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Updated: 17:05, 28 January 2021
A Kent man has been arrested after a suspicious package was sent to a Covid vaccine factory forcing the plant to be evacuated.
The 53-year-old from Chatham is being questioned after raids were carried out at two addresses in the town this morning.
Bomb squad soldiers and police were called to the Wockhardt factory in Wrexham where Covid vaccines are put into vials after a suspicious package was sent there. Picture: 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment Royal Logistics Corps/MoD
Boris Johnson today vowed the Government is working flat-out after a Covid outbreak at the DVLA headquarters.
More than 500 cases have been identified at the driving agency s offices in Swansea between September and December last year, after bosses allegedly told staff with symptoms to return to work.
It is thought to be Britain s biggest workplace outbreak and has increased pressure on ministers, with critics claiming they have failed to protect workers.
The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) has said claims staff with symptoms were told to work are categorically untrue .
The organisation also denied that staff were told to turn-off their NHS track and trace apps.
The Welsh Government has missed its target to vaccinate 70% of over-80s by the end of the weekend, First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed.
Mr Drakeford told the Welsh Parliament that the aim was affected by adverse weather, with a “large number” of over-80s not feeling it was safe for them to leave their homes in the snow and ice.
Figures released on Tuesday show 96,830 of those aged over 80 in Wales have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, accounting for 52.8% of that age group.
The data, from Public Health Wales, says 67.6% of care home residents and 74.6% of care home staff have received their first dose of the vaccine.