TAKEAWAY alcohol is expected to be be banned under the new lockdown rules, HOAR understands.
Brits will not be allowed to go to a pub and order a pint or glass of wine to take away under tough new crackdown rules Boris Johnson is expected to announce at 8pm tonight.
However, it’s thought that take-away food – including coffees and McDonalds – will be allowed to operate as usual.
Brits are already banned from going to the pub in the whole of England – except the Isles of Scilly – after everywhere was put into Tier 3 or 4 at the end of last year.
But take away pints have been allowed, meaning Brits have endured freezing temperatures to enjoy a drink outside with pals.
Experts believe people are less likely to social distance once they’ve had a drink.
The PM will address the nation at 8pm tonight where he is set to reveal new nation-wide lockdown rules for all of England.
Mr Johnson warned there was “no question” of tougher measures coming “in due course” after cases spiral out of control and the NHS struggles with the numbers of patients in hospitals.
Schools are expected to be shut for at least a month – and possibly until February half-term.
The nation may be told to stay at home again like in the March and November lockdowns.
A No10 spokesman said: ‘The spread of the new variant of COVID-19 has led to rapidly escalating case numbers across the country.
“The Prime Minister is clear that further steps must now be taken to arrest this rise and to protect the NHS and save lives.
“He will set those out this evening.”
It came as:
- An 82-year-old man became the first person to get the Oxford AstraZeneca jab this morning as the new vaccine was rolled out to hospitals
- Boris Johnson has told primary kids to return to schools today if they are open – but they are expected to shut for the next four weeks at least
- Hospitals across the country are filling up with more Covid patients – with now a quarter more people needing treatment there than in the first wave
- CMO Chris Whitty was spotted at No10 today for talks with senior officials
It comes as it was reported this evening that the lockdown is set to close ALL primary and secondary schools in England for at least a month – and possibly until February half-term.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has demanded all schools shut under a new national shutdown with the virus raging “out of control”.
“I’m afraid the closure of schools is now inevitable and therefore that needs to be part of… the national plan for further restrictions.”
New YouGov polling suggests a whopping 79 per cent of Brits support another national lockdown – even though it’s not yet clear what the latest measures will include.
Parliament will also be recalled today to sit on Wednesday – meaning there will likely be a vote on the measures, and they are expected to be national rather than regional like the Tier changes.
However, the new measures could be imposed as early as tonight with MPs given a retrospective say.
