Update: England Goes Into Third Lockdown With All Schools To Close Immediately

The coronavirus pandemic continues to surge in the UK and Boris Johnson faces fresh calls to impose more restrictions. 

It comes amid severe winter pressures on the NHS, and after case numbers soared above 50,000 for the sixth day in a row on Sunday. 

Boris Johnson said on Monday that there was “no question” tougher measures would be needed, despite the rollout of two vaccines. 

Given the vast majority of the country is living in either tier 3 or tier 4 already, with strict guidance to stay at home and non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants closed, what levers are left for the prime minister to pull? 

Here are some of the possibilities.  

National lockdown  

The prime minister could impose a full national lockdown in England, similar to that in March. 

This would mean blanket measures across the nation, with schools closed and the stay-at-home rule brought in everywhere. 

Labour leader Keir Starmer called for lockdown within 24 hours on Sunday.

Johnson, however, is thought to be hesitant to close more school, citing the hit to children’s learning and development. 

But, given the huge growth in lab-confirmed cases, he may be left with little choice. 

More law enforcement 

Johnson may call on the police or even the army to enforce social distancing or stay-at-home rules. 

This could mean more fines and a greater number of cops patrolling the streets.

As it stands, police can disperse crowds, tell parents to stop their children breaking the rules, and issue fixed penalties for breaches of restrictions. 

People can be arrested if they continue to break the rules. 

Those over 18 can be fined £200 for a first offence, £400 for a second offence and then the amount can be doubled for every further breach up to a maximum of £6,400. 

But the government could significantly boost enforcement if it thinks that will deter the public from bending the rules.

A curfew 

Some European countries have begun to restrict the amount of time people can be outdoors at all with a curfew. 

For example, in parts of France where the virus is rampant, president Emmanuel Macron ordered people to stay inside from 8pm. This was later brought forward to 6pm. 

Johnson could move to impose similar measures here. 

Return of the two-metre rule

In June, the government switched the strict two-metre social distancing rule to “one-metre plus”. 

This meant that people could come within a metre of one another, so long as another mitigation, such as a face mask or screen, was in place. 

Ministers could scrap this measure and return to the two-metre rule. Sage, the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, advised doing this as long ago as December 23, but no action has yet been taken.

More mask rules  

Johnson could also make the wearing of face masks mandatory in more places, including outdoors at all times. 

As it stands, a mask must be worn indoors in places like shops. 

But the government could insist people wear a face covering at all times and in outdoor locations, such as parks. Again, confronted by the new variant, Sage advised their use in more educational and work settings – as well as crowded outdoor spaces – on December 23. Ministers have yet to act on this recommendation.