Bradford remains in Tier 3 after latest coronavirus restrictions review

In a speech in the House of Commons this afternoon, more areas of the England were moved into higher levels of restrictions, with a third of the country now under the strictest Tier 4 measures.

53,135 new cases were registered yesterday - the majority of which are thought to be the new variant of coronavirus.

Matt Hancock speaks in Parliament today

Matt Hancock said: "Whilst we have the good news of the vaccine today, we also have to take some difficult decisions. The NHS is under significant pressure.

"There are over 21,000 people in hospital with coronavirus right now."

He added: "Unfortunately, this new variant is spreading across most of England, and cases are doubling fast.

"It is therefore necessary to apply Tier 4 measures to a wider area, including the remaining parts of the South East as well as large parts of the Midlands, the North West, the North East and the South West."

Areas moving to Tier 3 include Liverpool and North Yorkshire.

The Health Secretary urged people to take “personal responsibility” to stop the spread of the virus.

Responding to Labour, he told the Commons: “It is on all of us, and it is about how everybody behaves.

“Because if we collectively decide to stop this by taking personal responsibility and not coming into contact with others unless it is absolutely necessary that is how we can slow the spread of this virus within of course the tier restrictions which are necessary.

“But ultimately it is about how we all behave, that is how we get through the next few weeks together and then the vaccine can come and save us.”