When will Matt Hancock make Covid-19 announcement and what he is expected to say

Following news that Liverpool City Region had been placed into the highest restriction tier this week, Matt Hancock may announce that other areas in England will also have to face the toughest restrictions of Tier 3 when he addresses the Commons this morning.

What will the Health Secretary say?

As well as confirming the latest coronavirus figures, Matt Hancock is also expected to give an update on the implementation of further restrictions in areas of England such as Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle, and parts of Lancashire (including Manchester).

The Health Secretary is also expected to give an update on the situation with London, after MPs were informed that the capital will move to Tier 2 at midnight on Friday.

It is highly likely that Greater Manchester and Lancashire could be placed into Tier 3, which would see further restrictions implemented just days after the announcement that it is in Tier 2.

Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi was unable to rule out the further restrictions in the North West when questioned on Sky.

He said: “I’m not going to speculate.

"Matt Hancock is going to make a statement to Parliament as to where we are at but you can clearly see the numbers, the virus is rising.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor for Greater Manchester, has been fervently against the area being moved into Tier 3.

He said yesterday: “Since one meeting on Friday, the Government has not discussed these matters with us.

“Instead, the pressure is being piled on via media briefings.

“Later today I will set out why the current Tier 3 proposal is fundamentally flawed and why we won’t accept it.”

He met with the Cabinet this morning, and Matt Hancock’s announcement is thought to follow these discussions.

What would Tier 3 mean?

The Liverpool city region has seen pubs and restaurants forced to close, as well as a ban on mixing between households indoors and outdoors.

There are strict rules on meeting with others from outside of your support bubble in areas that have Tier 3 restrictions, including not even meeting outdoors in private gardens.

There are also not allowed to be any wedding receptions in Tier 3 areas.

Schools and universities remain open, but universities are set to conduct more online teaching.

It has also been questioned whether the Health Secretary will announce an incoming circuit-breaker lockdown during his address.

A circuit breaker lockdown involves a two week long national lockdown, which would see certain businesses forced to close or be regulated, including pubs, restaurants, bars and leisure facilities.

This comes about after the government SAGE committee insisted that the infection rate would not start to fall dramatically unless another full lockdown was imposed nationally.

When is the announcement?

Hancock is expected to give a statement to the House of Commons at around 11.30am this morning, and it will be available to watch through BBC News and Sky News.