Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to brief the nation today – here's what could be announced

As of 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 7,143 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, making it the highest daily figure recorded since the start of the pandemic.

Now, Boris Johnson will conduct a press conference once more to address the nation and answer questions following a Cabinet meeting and Prime Minister's Questions at midday.

When will the address take place?

It is believed that the Prime Minister will conduct the press conference at 5pm and he will be joined at Downing Street by chief medical officer for England Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

It will be available to watch on BBC and Sky News.

What is he going to say?

With further lockdown restrictions coming in across the north east today, it is a possibility that the Prime Minister will announce a local lockdown for parts of Merseyside.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson told The Daily Telegraph: “For me, it is only a matter of time because the virus isn’t able to be controlled in the city with the restrictions we have now.

“We need a circuit breaker or stricter lockdown to try to stop the virus spreading.

“If we can have the severest measures of lockdown now, we may arrest the increase and start to bring it down by the end of October, so that in the lead up to Christmas we can get some normality.”

There is also still the possibility of further areas going into a local lockdown, including the city of Sheffield, as cases and the infection rate continuing to rise daily.

and nationally, the possibility of a full two week lockdown, with Cabinet not ruling it out completely.

However, a large announcement such as this is unlikely as the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said of the press conference: “The purpose of that is to provide an update on the latest statistics.

"It is not because there is some specific set of new announcements to make.”

It is anticipated that the Prime Minister may clear up rules surrounding the tighter restrictions in the north east after he admitted that he ‘misspoke’ in response to a question about the regulations.

The PM was asked yesterday whether people from different households will still be allowed to meet in pub beer gardens in the north east following confusion over the rules.

In reply, he said: “In the North East and other areas where extra-tight measures have been brought in, you should follow the guidance of local authorities but it is six in a home, six in hospitality but as I understand it, not six outside.”

He later apologised on Twitter, saying: “Apologies, I misspoke today.

“In the North East, new rules mean you cannot meet people from different households in social settings indoors, including in pubs, restaurants and your home. You should also avoid socialising with other households outside."

MPs are also set to vote on the renewal of the Coronavirus Act’s powers today after 50 Tory rebels, lead by Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the influential Tory 1922 Committee, announced that they want more power when implementing coronavirus lockdown restrictions.