As I communicate to you tonight, our hospitals are beneath extra stress from Covid than at any time for the reason that begin of the pandemic. In England alone, the variety of Covid sufferers in hospitals has elevated by almost a 3rd within the final week to nearly 27,000. And that quantity is 40 % greater than the primary peak in April. On the twenty ninth of December, greater than 80,000 individuals examined constructive for Covid throughout the U.Okay., a brand new file. The variety of deaths is up by 20 % during the last week, and can sadly rise additional. And my ideas are with all those that’ve misplaced family members. With many of the nation already beneath excessive measures, it’s clear that we have to do extra collectively to deliver this new variant beneath management whereas our vaccines are rolled out. In England, we should due to this fact go right into a nationwide lockdown, which is hard sufficient to comprise this variant. Chances are you’ll solely go away house for restricted causes permitted in legislation, resembling to buy necessities, to work — for those who completely can’t do business from home — to train, to hunt medical help, resembling getting a Covid check or to flee home abuse. Main faculties, secondary faculties and faculties throughout England should transfer to distant provision from tomorrow, apart from susceptible youngsters and the youngsters of key staff.