THE Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled a new "three-tier" local lockdown style system for England - with pubs and bars in top tier areas being forced to shut from this week. 

In the House of Commons this afternoon, the PM said England will be placed into “medium”, “high” and “very high” alert levels under the new restrictions as he said a full lockdown would not be the right course.

Describing the new system, the PM said areas listed as medium will be subject to the same rules as those which currently apply across the country, such as the rule of six and the 10pm hospitality curfew.

READ MORE: The number of Covid patients in North-East hospitals as Nightingale placed on standby

Those areas in high alert level, which will apply to most of the areas already subject to restrictions, household mixing will be banned indoors. Support bubbles will still be permitted, however.

The very high alert level will apply to areas causing the most concern, and social mixing will be prohibited indoors and in private gardens.

Pubs and bars will be closed in the very high alert level areas unless they can operate as a restaurant. People will also be advised against travel in and out of the areas.

The PM did not announce which parts of the North-East and North Yorkshire would be affected although it was confirmed that Liverpool would be placed on "very high" covid alert with pubs forced to shut on Wednesday.

Full national lockdown would 'shatter' lives and society

Before unveiling the three-tier system, the PM responded to calls that England should go into a full lockdown with the closure of schools and non-essential businesses.

He said: “And of course, there are those who say that on that logic, we should go back into a full national lockdown of indefinite duration, closing schools and businesses, telling people again to stay at home as we did in March. Once again shattering our lives and our society.

“I do not believe that would be the right course. We would not only be depriving our children of their education, we would do such damage to our economy as to erode our long-term ability to fund the NHS and other crucial public services.

“And on the other side of the argument, there are those who think that the patience of the public is now exhausted, that we should abandon the fight against Covid, stand aside, let nature take her course and call a halt to these repressions of liberty.”

'We need to go further'

The PM said the R value was being suppressed to "well below" its natural level as he went on to say that measures were needed to go further.

The PM said: “We will now simplify and standardise our local rules, by introducing a three tiered system of local covid alert levels in England set at medium, high and very high.”

“The medium alert level will cover most of the country and will consist of the current national measures, this includes the rule of six and the closure of hospitality at 10pm.

“The high alert level reflects the interventions in many local areas at the moment. This primarily aims to reduce household to household transmission by preventing all mixing between different households or support bubbles indoors.

"In these areas the rule of six will continue to apply outdoors where it is harder for the virus to spread in public spaces as well as private gardens.”

  • The PM is expected to appear again during the Downing Street press briefing where he will expand on the measures further - this will take place at around 7pm.