BORIS Johnson is set to make a televised address tonight to outline updated plans for coronavirus restrictions in England, the BBC reports.
The announcement is set to take place at 8pm.
A No 10 spokesman told the BBC: "The Prime Minister is clear that further steps must now be taken to arrest this rise and to protect the NHS and save lives.
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"He will set those out this evening."
Earlier today, the Prime Minister said there was "no question" about the need for tougher measures amid the number of reported coronavirus cases rising sharply across much of the UK.
He said these tougher measures would be announced "in due course".
The latest data shows a 33 per cent rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus patients in hospital in England between Christmas Day and January 2, figures which have caused alarm in Whitehall and the health service.
"If you look at the numbers there's no question we will have to take tougher measures and we will be announcing those in due course," Mr Johnson said during a visit to Chase Farm Hospital in north London.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the government is "prepared to take the action that is necessary" to curb rising numbers of Covid cases across the UK.
He also pointed to the previous "rapid" introduction of Covid measures, using the introduction of Tier 4 "within just over 24 hours" as an example.
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan grilled Mr Hancock on the need for a national lockdown, comparing the current situation of rising cases across the UK to March - when the UK was first plunged into lockdown.
Mr Morgan said: "We waited and waited and waited until it was too late.
"Surely given the rate of transmission here - you're the Health Secretary, you are looking at the same graphs that I am - you must share my horror at what is happening.
"Surely we know that the only truly effective, blunt implement at this stage is to do a national lockdown, isn't it?
"I don't see any other way that you're going to get a lid on this variant."
Mr Hancock responded: "It's not only about the measures we put in place Piers, but it's also about how everybody responds to them.
"On Good Morning Britain you have been unbelievably responsible throughout this crisis in explaining to people how important it is - because it's on all of us, right?
"Ultimately, the reason this virus gets from one person to another is when you get into close physical proximity.
"That's why just staying apart and staying at home, unless you have a very good reason not to, are so important to control the virus."
But Mr Morgan claimed that "nobody really understands" the existing tier system of coronavirus restrictions, saying that "at least with a national lockdown there is clarity".
Mr Hancock said: "We are prepared to take the action that is necessary, and sometimes very rapidly.
"When we found out that this new variant spreads so much faster, we moved within just over 24 hours to bring in Tier 4.
"We look at this data all the time."
The announcement of the televised address comes after it was confirmed today that Scotland would be entering lockdown from midnight.
Most of Scotland will be in lockdown for the whole of January to tackle the rising spread of the new coronavirus strain, Nicola Sturgeon announced.
The First Minister said a legally-enforceable stay-at-home order will apply from tomorrow to areas currently under Level 4 - mainland Scotland and Skye - with exemptions in place for carers, essential shopping, unlimited outdoor exercise and being part of an extended household.
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Schools and nurseries will remain closed to most pupils until February, meaning an additional two weeks of home learning for most pupils.
Ms Sturgeon announced the changes in a statement at the Scottish Parliament, which was recalled from recess to discuss stricter measures, telling MSPs taking no action could see Covid-19 capacity in hospitals overrun within "three or four weeks".
She said: "We have an opportunity in Scotland to avert the situation here deteriorating to that extent but we must act quickly."
The First Minister said the lockdown decision was taken after a meeting of the Scottish Cabinet on Monday morning.
She said: "I can confirm now, in summary, that we decided to introduce from tomorrow, for the duration of January, a legal requirement to stay at home except for essential purposes. This is similar to the lockdown of March last year."
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