Pubs in England will be banned from serving takeaway pints, as Boris Johnson announced a third lockdown.
In a TV address on Monday evening, the prime minister announced strict new nationwide coronavirus lockdown rules would come into force from Wednesday until February 15.
He said England had to “go into a national lockdown” to suppress the virus, including the closure of schools.
Much of England is currently under tier 4 restrictions, but pubs have so far allowed to deliver serve takeaway drinks even in these areas.
Under the new measures due to come into force from midnight, that will change – all pubs will be unable to offer click and collect services or serve takeaway for alcohol.
But pubs will still be allowed to deliver alcohol, of serve takeaway food.
The prime minister has imposed the rules amid growing concern about a surge in coronavirus infections.
On January 4, there were 26,626 Covid patients in hospital in England – an increase of over 30% on the same day a week before. The peak of admissions in the first wave was 18,974 on April 12.
Across the UK, there were 80,664 positive tests on December 29 and a further 65,571 on December 30.
Ahead of Johnson’s announcement, the UK’s chief medical officers agreed on Monday to raise the Covid-19 alert level to five – its highest – as they warned that the NHS could be overwhelmed within 21 days “in several areas” without further action.
It comes after Nicola Sturgeon announced most of Scotland will be placed in lockdown from Tuesday for the whole of January.
In his speech, Johnson said the new coronavirus variant, which is up to 70% more transmissible, was spreading in a “frustrating and alarming” manner, and warned that the number of patients in English hospitals is 40% higher than the first peak.
“As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic,” he said.
Pinning his hopes on the rapid rollout of vaccines to ease restrictions, Johnson acknowledged “how frustrated you are” and that “you have had more than enough of Government guidance” – but stressed “now, more than ever, we must pull together”.
“The weeks ahead will be the hardest yet but I really do believe that we’re entering the last phase of the struggle because with every jab that goes into our arms we’re tilting the odds against Covid and in favour of the British people,” he added.