Michael Gove warns NHS could be ‘overwhelmed’ unless MPs back new tiers

Labour is yet to decide whether it will support the new restrictions and has warned areas in tier three need more financial support.

The introduction of the three tier system will see almost all of the country in the highest two tiers which include tight restrictions on bars and restaurants and households mixing indoors.

London is in tier two with only Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly in the lowest tiers.

Mr Johnson acknowledged on Friday that people felt “frustrated”, particularly in areas with low infection rates which now face tighter restrictions than before the lockdown.

It comes as the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 in four NHS regions of England reached higher totals this month than during the first peak, with figures in both the South West and North East and Yorkshire still above those seen in the spring.

Meanwhile, it emerged that scientists advising the Government said that any relaxation of restrictions over Christmas will result in a “large” rise in coronavirus transmission rates and prevalence “could easily double”.

In a set of documents released on Friday, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said “substantial mixing” of people over a short period of time represents a “significant risk for widespread transmission”.