Boris Johnson announcement: When the PM is expected to announce new restrictions for Sheffield

The Prime Minister is set to impose tougher restrictions for areas which have been worst-hit by coronavirus today, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus across the country.

Sheffield has been teetering on the edge of a local lockdown for the last fortnight and came out as the city with the seventh highest number of Covid-19 cases, according to Public Health England data released last week.

Ministers are said to be considering similar strict new measures for swathes of northern England, amid concerns the virus is spreading out of control.

When will Boris Johnson make the announcement?

Boris Johnson is expected to make a formal announcement of new measures in a statement to MPs on today (Monday, October 12).

The Prime Minister is scheduled to address representatives at around 3.30pm, by announcing the new three-tier system of “local COVID alert levels” across England.

This will come after a COBRA meeting this morning in which the details of the proposed three-stage lockdown system will be finalised.

At around 6 pm, Mr Johnson will host a televised press conference alongside Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to address the public and answer questions.

“This is a critical juncture and it is absolutely vital that everyone follows the clear guidance we have set out to help contain the virus,” Downing Street said.

What are the current restrictions in Sheffield?

There are no Covid-19 lockdown measures in the city so far, despite Sheffield being named the seventh worst affected part of country after surge in Covid cases, placing it higher than Leeds which is already subject to restrictions.

The city’s care rate in the seven days to October 5 was 398.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 148.8 per 100,000 people the week before.

This means there were 2,329 positive tests in Sheffield between September 29 and October 5, compared with just 870 between September 21 and 28 – which equates to an increase of more than 150 per cent in seven days.

Sheffield’s coronavirus threat level was also raised to red by the council last week, following a sustained rise in cases found across the whole region, not just specific areas and postcodes.

What is the current infection rate in Sheffield?

In the city, a total of 10,149 people have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began, meaning 1,735.3 people have been infected with the virus per every 100,000.

From September 30 to October 6 there were 427 cases per 100,000 people, according to data from Public Health England.

What measures could be implemented in a three-tier lockdown?

In an effort to address the rising infection rates, the Prime Minister will likely introduce a three-tier system for local lockdowns, which would see different parts of England placed into different categories.

Areas that fall into tier one will have fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 of population and will continue to follow national restrictions, such as the "rule of six" and social distancing.

Those in tier two include areas where cases are above 100 per 100,000, with restrictions to be similar to those currently in place in large parts of northern England, including bans on household meetings.

Areas placed into tier three would include those with significantly higher infection rates and will likely face a full lockdown, which would see pubs, cafes and restaurants forced to close.

Will pubs and restaurants close?

Mr Johnson is expected to order tougher restrictions in swathes of northern England and the Midlands, with the worst affected areas facing the possible closure of pubs and restaurants.

Cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle will most likely see hospitality venues forced to shut, as infection rates in these areas continue to soar.

However, a final decision on the time period or extent of the potential closures has not yet been confirmed.

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