PM's press conference at 16:00 GMTpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020
More about the UK PM's press conference later. We've just learned it will be held at 16:00 GMT. We'll bring you full coverage of the press conference here.
Summary
Relaxation of Christmas Covid rules scrapped for much of south-east England as tier four restrictions announced
And people in England in tiers one to three can only mix indoors on Christmas Day
Festive bubbles in Scotland and Wales also restricted to just Christmas Day
PM says spread in cases 'being driven by the new variant of the virus'
Wales brings forward lockdown to start from midnight
Nicola Sturgeon announces travel ban between Scotland and rest of UK from Boxing Day
Northern Ireland lockdown to start on Boxing Day
A second vaccine is being rolled out in the US after regulators approved a jab developed by Moderna
Italy has ordered a nationwide lockdown over much of the Christmas and New Year period
PM's press conference at 16:00 GMTpublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020
Virus spreading at 'alarming rate' in London and South Eastpublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020
Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent
The virus is spreading at "an alarming rate" in London and the south-east of England, a government source says.
It's understood there was also call with ministers last night, where the idea of travel restrictions was discussed.
New measures are said to be under discussion today - although what they may be hasn't been specified.
PM to hold press conference this afternoonpublished at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020
BreakingThe prime minister will hold a press conference later this afternoon, Downing Street says, as cases continue to rise in England.
He'll be joined by the chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty, and the UK's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.
We'll bring you all the details as and when they happen.
Welcomepublished at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2020
Good afternoon.
With just one week to go until a Christmas like no other, let's take a look at the main coronavirus headlines today.
In the UK:
- Boris Johnson will host a press conference later amid a rising number of Covid infections in England.
- Before that, cabinet ministers are holding talks on what action to take. Our political correspondent Nick Eardley says it feels like a "fast-moving situation".
- Hospitals in Kent are postponing non-urgent procedures as coronavirus cases in the county rise beyond figures seen in the spring.
- Government scientists are continuing to evaluate the spread of a new variant of Covid in south-east England as there are "growing concerns" about its transmission.
- Fake "Covid-19 immunity boosters" are being sold over the counter in London shops, a BBC investigation has found.
Around the world:
- Italy has ordered a nationwide lockdown over much of the Christmas and New Year period in an effort to combat a rise in coronavirus cases.
- The US government has approved the Moderna vaccine, making it the second in the country to get the green light.
- India has become the second country to record 10 million coronavirus cases, but the rate of infection in the second-worst affected country is continuing to slow.