London will go into local lockdown from midnight tomorrow, with tough restrictions on socialising and travelling.
Nine million people will be banned from meeting indoors, including in pubs and restaurants, and advised not to use public transport as the capital moves into tier-two restrictions.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announced the decision in the Commons and said that infection rates in London were doubling every ten days. Essex, Elmbridge, Barrow-in-Furness, York, North East Derbyshire, Erewash and Chesterfield will move into Tier 2 at the same time.
He said that the virus was now “spreading exponentially” in the UK. “We must act now to prevent the need for tougher measures later on,” he said. “Local action is one of the best weapons we have.”
London MPs
