Tonight, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to call for a 10pm closing time at pubs, bars and restaurants across England from Thursday to help curb spiralling coronavirus rates.

Johnson will chair meetings of Cabinet and the Cobra emergency committee – including the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – ahead of a live, televised address tonight at 8pm.

The Prime Minister will use the address to the nation to outline new measures, which include restricting the hospitality sector to table service only.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality said, 'It is hard to understand how these measures are the solution to fighting the disease when Government data shows that just 5% of infections out of the home are related to hospitality.'

A Number 10 spokesperson said, “No-one underestimates the challenges the new measures will pose to many individuals and businesses.

“We know this won’t be easy, but we must take further action to control the resurgence in cases of the virus and protect the NHS.”

(sources: Mirror, Standard, image: pexels)