Large areas of the country are expected to join London and the South East in the Tier 4 level of restrictions.
Tier 4 restrictions are in place across London and the South East
England has been put on notice for a New Year lockdown after the government's chief scientific adviser warned that an extension of Tier 4 restrictions may be needed.
With the new variant now surging across the UK, an announcement that large areas of England will join London and parts of southeast England in Tier 4 is expected on Wednesday 30 December, when the next review of the tier system is due.
The clampdown is expected to come into force in the new year.
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Patrick Vallance warns of more restrictions
The rapid spread of the virus means the COVID-19 crisis facing Boris Johnson is dramatically escalating, with the chaos at Channel ports caused by the French travel ban expected to last at least until Christmas Eve.
And in another blow to the travelling public, the Stormont executive in Belfast is advising against non-essential travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The executive is also urging anyone arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK to self-isolate for 10 days.