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COVID-19: Boris Johnson to hold Downing Street news conference from 5pm

The PM will be joined by the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser on the first day of England's third lockdown.

Boris Johnson
Image: In a national address on Monday, Mr Johnson announced another shutdown
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Boris Johnson will hold a news conference with England's chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser later today, Downing Street has said.

The prime minister will be joined by Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance from 5pm, on the first day of England's third national lockdown.

In a national address on Monday, Mr Johnson announced another shutdown to try and control the spread of COVID-19.

Live COVID updates as lockdown begins

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Tighter restrictions as new lockdown begins

People are once again being told to stay home, apart from for a limited number of exceptions.

A surge in cases is being driven by a new variant of coronavirus that has been judged to be between 50% and 70% more transmissible.

As of Monday, there were 26,626 COVID patients in hospital in England - an increase of over 30% in one week and now more than 40% higher than the peak of the first wave of infections last April.

There has also been a near 25% increase in the number of deaths in the past seven days, compared to the previous week.