In the last hour, we heard a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the government's latest measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Here are some of the most significant announcements:

• The prime minister has said he does not believe another national lockdown would be the "right course" in combating the pandemic
• Instead a new, three-tiered lockdown system will be rolled out, categorised under medium, high and very high
• Most areas in England will be put on a medium alert level - meaning current restrictions continue, including the 10pm hospitality curfew
• But areas which already have local restrictions on household mixing will be automatically put on high alert.
• The Liverpool City Region will become the first area to enter the very high alert level
• The prime minster has also said that all retail outlets, schools and universities will remain open.

Reality Check

Image source, PA Media

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticised the government for the amount of time it was taking to get coronavirus test results.

“The prime minister promised 100% of test results would be turned around in 24 hours,” he said.

“The latest figure for in-person testing is just 24% being turned around in that period.”

According to the most recent data, external for the week to 30 September, 25.7% were received within 24 hours.

That was a considerable fall from 38.0% the previous week.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey says the government has asked a lot from people during this pandemic - "Stay at home, close your business, don't be there at the death of a loved one."

"Their sacrifices have been squandered by the government's failure to build a robust test, trace and isolate system or even communicate competently," he says.

"Can the prime minister promise new sacrifices will not be squandered this time," he asks.

Boris Johnson replies that he believes new measures can be effective "if they are delivered jointly with local authorities and with local support".

Image source, Getty Images

One MP has criticised the prime minister for not making it illegal to travel for those in "very high alert" areas.

Liz Saville Roberts, the leader of the Plaid Cymru party in Westminster, says people from Conwy, with 122 cases per 100,000, are not permitted by Welsh law to make non-essential journeys into nearby areas, which have far lower prevalence of coronavirus.

"But people in Liverpool, with almost 1,600 cases per 100,000 can still go on holiday" in those parts of Wales, she points out.

"People in Wales are asking the prime minister - how is this fair?"

In response, the PM said while it is not illegal for people from higher risk areas to travel, the guidance is "very clear" in saying people from places like Merseyside "should not be making those journeys".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responds to the prime minister's new measures, saying he has tried to give Boris Johnson "the benefit of the doubt" but it increasingly feels as though he is "several steps behind the curve".

Green MP Caroline Lucas says today's announcement is "a partial admission of the failure" of the test and trace system.

She asks the prime minister if he "regrets handing billions to the private sector who have failed so spectacularly" to - and calls for local public health teams to be given control over test and trace. She also urges the prime minister to "stop saying he is putting his arms round the self-employed because three million have had no support since March".

Boris Johnson replies that the government has given £13.5bn to self-employed people.

On test and trace, he argues that the evidence suggests "you need a national and local approach".

The government has released its daily coronavirus figures, announcing a further 13,972 confirmed cases on Monday.

The government also announced a further 50 people had died with Covid-19, after testing positive within the last 28 days.

That includes 43 in England, four in Wales, three in Northern Ireland and none in Scotland.

The Liverpool City Region's pubs, bars and betting shops will close on Wednesday as it becomes the first area in England to be placed in the highest level of a new three-tier lockdown system.

People in Liverpool have been giving their reaction to facing new restrictions.

The Prime Minister sets out to MPs the new three-tier system, saying it "simplifies and standardises" coronavirus restrictions.

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

Boris Johnson being criticised by all sides.

But even his own Conservative MPs have different views on how to tackle the pandemic, with some saying individuals should be left to make their own decisions, others saying tougher measures need to be imposed now.

Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party Ian Blackford says today "must be a turning point when we act collectively and get back to the absolute priority of suppressing the virus, protecting the NHS and saving lives".

He urges the prime minister to extend the furlough scheme and make the universal credit rise permanent.

Boris Johnson replies that the chancellor's job support scheme is "more generous" than the systems in many European countries.

He says the universal credit uplift will remain "for the rest of this year".

The prime minister confirms that most areas already subject to local restrictions - on top of the national rules - will automatically move into the "high alert" category - that is, tier two.

In addition Nottinghamshire, east and west Cheshire, and a small area of the High Peak will also move into that tier, he says, after a rise in cases in those areas.

The "very high alert level" will apply where transmission rates are rising most rapidly, and "where the NHS could soon be under unbearable pressure without further restrictions", he says.

Merseyside - including the city of Liverpool - will be in the "very high alert" category, under the most severe set of restrictions, from Wednesday.

"Engagement with other leaders in the North West, the North East and Yorkshire and Humber is continuing," the PM adds.

"I know how difficult this is, they like us, like everyone in this House, are grappling with very real dilemmas, but we cannot let the NHS fall over when lives are at stake."

He urges local authorities to "work with us on these difficult but necessary measures in the areas that are rated very high" in return for more support, adding: "I believe not to act would be unforgivable so I hope that rapid progress can be made in the coming days."

Faisal Islam
BBC Economics Editor

From an economic standpoint, it is clear the government has gone out of its way to keep all retail open, and restaurants too.

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

Starmer gives the impression he doesn’t think the government has gone far enough or acted swiftly enough, but doesn’t quite say it.

Image source, PA Media

In response to the prime minister, Labour leader Keir Starmer tells the House of Commons that the country is at a “critical moment” with the virus is spreading in all areas of the UK.

He says that nobody "should be under any illusions about where this is heading or the need for decisive action".

“The question today is whether the restrictions announced by the prime minister can bring the country back from the brink,” he adds.

He says Labour will consider the package of new measures and discuss it with local leaders and MPs but he says he is “now deeply sceptical that the government has actually got a plan to get control of this virus”.

He says it “increasingly feels like the PM is several steps behind the curve” and he says previous measures announced by the government have not worked.

Starmer finishes by addressing the critics of further restrictions, saying "the worst thing the prime minister could do is not act quickly and decisively enough".

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is responding to the Prime Minister's statement is being far more critical of the government’s approach than previously.

He accuses prime minister of serial failure.

"This is not how we want to live our lives," says Boris Johnson concluding his speech.

"But is the narrow path we have to tread between social and economic costs of a full lockdown and the massive human and indeed economic cost of an uncontained epidemic.

"I must warn the House the weeks and months ahead will continue to be difficult and will test the mettle of this country. I have no doubt at all that together we will succeed."

The PM is now setting out financial support measures for those who will be affected by the new measures.

He points towards the already-announced "unprecendented" financial support package that Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled, which essentially replaces the furlough scheme from earlier in the year.

It will cover two-thirds of the wages for employees of businesses forced to close by virus restrictions.

The PM also says the government will provide about £1bn of new funding to local authorities across the UK on top of the £3.6bn Towns Fund.

For areas on "very high" alert, there will be further financial support for improved contract tracing, he adds.

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

The new three tier system is medium, high and very high.

One Whitehall insider said we shouldn’t call it a traffic light system because there’s “no green light”.

That shows how perilous the situation is across England.

Many will want to know how an area can move into lower tiers with fewer restrictions.

Boris Johnson says the evidence shows "changing our behaviour" has saved lives.

He now sets out the details of the new three tiered system.

He says the medium level, which will cover most of the country, consists of current national measures - including the rule of six and the 10pm curfew.

The high level, he says, aims to reduce household-to-household transmission by preventing all mixing between different households or support bubbles, indoors.

Most areas already subject to local restrictions will automatically move into the high alert level.

Areas in the very high level will see social mixing prohibited indoors and in private gardens. The PM also says pubs and bars will be closed in those areas.