Boris Johnson has been warned by NHS chiefs that easing coronavirus restrictions threatens to spark a third wave of infections in January.
Last month, the prime minister promised millions of people living under the toughest tier 3 restrictions that their areas would be downgraded to tier 2 this week — followed by a further easing of rules for five days over Christmas.
But amid mounting concern about rising infections and hospital admissions, senior NHS officials said Johnson should instead upgrade all the new hotspots, such as London and Essex, to tier 3.
The capital has 211 weekly cases per 100,000 people, pushing it above tier 3 cities such as Birmingham and Manchester, on 197 and 176 respectively.
In a letter to the prime minister,
