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The First Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, said the "only winner from such scenes will be Covid-19".

Additional restrictions have come into force in three postcode areas in Northern Ireland today.

Households are no longer allowed to mix indoors in private homes. Children whose parents do not live in the same household can move between homes as normal, however.

Arelene Foster described Boris Johnson's comments as "sobering".

The First Minister of Wales has said people in the country need to keep working from home.

He also said only six people can meet indoors and everyone need to wear face coverings.

He confirms that pubs will close from 10pm.

He said while the vast majority of people had complied there had been "too many breaches" and the virus had started to spread again in an "exponential way".

He said: "We know this virus is no less fatal than it was in the spring... we risk many more deaths and many more families losing loved ones before their time.

"The single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves."

The Prime Minister has started his address to the nation at Downing Street.

"The struggle against Covid is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime," he said.

"But I am certain this is a struggle we will win."

Boris Johnson will address the 海角视频 in just under half an hour. In the meantime, we will recap the new rules the Government announced today.

Face coverings

• Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings (from 23 September).
• Customers in hospitality venues must wear face coverings, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Staff in hospitality and retail will now also be required to wear face coverings (from 24 September).
• People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.
• Guidance stating that face coverings and visors should be worn in close contact services will now become law (from 24 September).
• Staff working on public transport and taxi drivers will continue to be advised to wear face coverings.

Working from home

• Office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter.
• Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary.
• Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work.

Restrictions on pubs and restaurants

• Businesses selling food or drink (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, and adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls, must be closed between 10pm and 5am. This will include take-aways but delivery services can continue after 10pm (from 24 September)
• In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table.
• Customers must eat and drink at a table in any premises selling food and drink to consume indoors, on site. (from 24 September)
• Businesses will need to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’ at different premises using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details once the app is rolled out nationally (from 24 September).

Meeting other people

• Support groups must be limited to a maximum of 15 people (from 24 September)
• Indoor organised sport for over 18s will no longer be exempt from the rule of six. There is an exemption for indoor organised team sports for disabled people.
• There will be a new exemption in those areas of local intervention where household mixing is not allowed to permit friends and family to provide informal childcare for children under 14 (from 24 September)
• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30).
• Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals (from 28 September).

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to address the nation at 8pm regarding the latest restrictions imposed to help the 海角视频 through the coronavirus pandemic.

That means the first episode of the new series of the Great British Bake Off will be broadcast 15 minutes later, at 8.15pm, on Channel 4.

It comes as the hospitality industry warned it could be hit hard by the proposed curfews on the night-time economy.

Tim Martin, the outspoken boss of JD Wetherspoon, has slammed the Government's 10pm curfew on the nighttime economy.

He told Business Live this afternoon: “A curfew will mean that supervised socialising in pubs will end at 10pm and people are likely to socialise in their homes and elsewhere, where there is no supervision.”

Meanwhile Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell Brewery, says the early closing could cause thousands of job losses and further damage hospitality businesses.

Ahead of the Prime Minister's address to the nation later, here's an explanation of what's been announced already regarding coronavirus lockdown measures in England :

Business leaders from across the 海角视频 have called the latest lockdown measures a 'hammerblow' for business with far reaching impact on hospitality, events, the high street and ultimately, employment.

They are calling on the Chancellor to ensure business support is extended to reflect the further restrictions on normal life, which could be up to six months.

The new lockdown rules include:

A curfew on the night time economy from 10pm

Face coverings until you are seated in restaurants and bars

Face coverings in taxis

Just 15 guests at weddings

High fines for non-compliance

The conference and events sector is of great importance to the West Midlands because of firms such as the NEC Group which owns and operates four major venues in the region which normally welcome millions of guests every year.

Other key venues include Symphony Hall and Town Hall in Birmingham while sporting stadiums Villa Park and Edgbaston also have a strong record in hosting conferences and events.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: "Major sporting events, performances, conferences and exhibitions are a significant part of our regional economy, from the high-profile, major institutions right down to specialist supply chain firms and skilled freelancers.

"Today, after six months in lockdown, the industry has been given just over a week's notice that it cannot reopen as scheduled.

"The Prime Minister said the Chancellor and Culture Secretary were working on measures to support this sector and they had better be quick about it in order to save the wide range of businesses who are impacted.

"The support that was made available for all businesses earlier this year was unprecedented and saved the livelihoods of many.

"However, with (these) closing in the coming months, just as tougher measures are being brought in, the Government has a lot of questions to answer on how it intends to support businesses through this next wave."

Milan Pandya a business advisory partner at Blick Rothenberg said encouraging people to work from home and stay out of the town centres will be a 'final hammer blow rendering their business unviable'.

"It is imperative that the support measures introduced by the Chancellor are also extended, otherwise businesses will suffer and unemployment will rise.”

He urged the Chancellor to revise his plans to reflect ongoing restrictions with the extension of measures to aid cashflow and the extension of loan repayment terms.

He added: “ The Government will need to either extend the furlough scheme on a sector specific basis or bring in alternative measures to protect employment in these businesses – as the German and French Governments have done in medium-term seems the only sensible way. The alternative will undoubtedly be mass unemployment, which will particularly hit 16-24 year olds and potentially risk a lost generation."

Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said the potential six month restrictions will be a huge blow to the business community. He said: "Businesses need absolute clarity on their obligations going forwards, an extension or replacement of the furlough scheme and other support schemes and a commitment that measures to maintain the strength of the economy are balanced with the needs of public health.

“There are many businesses that are exemplars, implementing the new measures, are Covid safe and they need our full support.

“It is important for businesses to determine with their employees what the relationship is between working from home and working in the office and this is a directive we have responded back to the Government with.”

Stuart Elford, chief executive of Plymouth and Devon Chamber of Commerce and chair of British Chambers of Commerce South West, said customers are wondering if it is safe to go out again, and businesses are thinking about will they be shut down again. He said: "The question for some businesses now is will it be profitable for them to open at all.”

Business West is a not-for-profit company which offers business support to start-up and growing businesses in the West of England. Managing Director, Phil Smith, said: “The Government should waste no time in setting out a comprehensive support package for firms forced to close or reduce capacity through no fault of their own.”

Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, said: "A curfew will mean that supervised socialising in pubs will end at 10pm and people are likely to socialise in their homes and elsewhere, where there is no supervision."

St Austell Brewery operates 178 bars, restaurants and hotels across the South West. Kevin Georgel, chief executive, said: “We are disappointed and concerned to hear today’s news about the 10pm curfew for hospitality. These new restrictions will cost thousands of jobs and further damage businesses, that are already struggling to recover.”

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry, said it’s paramount that the Government urgently steps forward with an ambitious second round of support measures to help firms survive. The job retention scheme is ending in six weeks and the deadline for bounce back loan applications is rapidly approaching.

“Many businesses – particularly those at the heart of our night time economy and events industries – are now seriously fearing for their futures. Having lost the summer, a lot of them would’ve been pinning their hopes to increased trade in the run-up to Christmas. Their plans are now in disarray.

“While some may’ve had cash reserves to carry them through the first lockdown, that cash will now be gone. Some of those who’ve taken on emergency finance will be finding that the initial injection of funds will not be enough to keep them afloat for another two quarters.

“While it’s encouraging to see the Government striking a balance between protecting public health and protecting the economy, this fresh round of restrictions will cause significant disruption for thousands of small firms.

“Policymakers now urgently need to map out the support measures that will follow-on from the job retention scheme, cash grants announced earlier this month and emergency finance initiatives.

“It’s important to remember that small firms have already spent thousands on putting safety measures in place but received no funding to support their efforts to do the right thing.

“Equally, a significant proportion of the small business community – not least the newly self-employed and company directors – have received no income support whatsoever. We urgently need to see a rescue package brought forward for those left out.

“We were promised a world-beating test-and-trace system, and its installation remains central to beating this virus and getting small firms firing on all cylinders again. We hope that Thursday’s app roll-out proves a success.

“We call on everyone to please support the small business community wherever and whenever possible. The 海角视频’s 5.8 million small firms and sole traders need your support now more than ever.”

A spokesperson for Downing Street explained: "To further free up the police to have a greater presence on our streets they will have the option to draw on military support, where required, using tried and tested mechanisms.

"This would involve the military backfilling certain duties, such as office roles and guarding protected sites, so police officers can be out enforcing the virus response.

"This is not about providing any additional powers to the military, or them replacing the police in enforcement roles, and they will not be handing out fines. It is about freeing up more police officers."

Boris Johnson is questioned by Tory MP Rehman Chishti over mental health issues created by the pandemic.

Mr Chishti, who also thanked the PM for his "hard work", asked Mr Johnson about mental health care provisions, especially for those with "severe issues".

He also asks the PM to look into it "urgently".

The Prime Minister says the government has been putting extra cash into mental health during the pandemic and promises to "look into it".

Responding to a question over whether he can guarantee there will not be a second national lockdown, Boris Johnson says it is the "whole objective" behind the new measures coming into force.

He said: "If we enforce the rules, that is how we will get the R down collectively and defeat the virus."

Responding to new national restrictions for England to combat a rising number of coronavirus cases, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

“Businesses understand that further restrictions are necessary to tackle the rising number of Coronavirus cases, but these measures will impact business and consumer confidence at a delicate time for the economy.

"Businesses, their employees and customers need to see a clear road map for the existing restrictions and those that may be introduced in the future.

"This must include transparent trigger points, and clarity about the support available to protect jobs and livelihoods.”

“The government should waste no time in setting out a comprehensive support package for firms forced to close or reduce capacity through no fault of their own."

The Prime Minister says the Government "will put our arms around the workforce of the 海角视频".

Responding to a question over jobs, Mr Johnson says the 海角视频 needs to "keep the economy moving while suppressing the R number".

Sir Keir Starmer asks what emergency financial support is available for those who need it, saying there is a "big gap".

He also says withdrawing furlough scheme in "one fell swoop" would be "disaster".

He says the measures are necessary by "not inevitable".

He claims the "Government didn't listen. It didn't act quickly enough."

Mr Starmer said: "We must recognised a second national lockdown would be a failure of Government and not an act of God.

"The Government must lead and must do so fast."

"This virus is a fact of our lives and our fight against it will continue," he said.

"We will not listen to those who urge a permanent lockdown. We are balancing saving lives and protecting jobs and livelihoods."

He added: "After six months of restrictions it would be tempted to think the virus is fading - but it is that kind of complacency could be our undoing."

PM says virus is growing fastest among young people aged between 20 and 29. And he says daily hospital admissions have doubled in last fortnight.

He warns of "daily deaths unless we act". Covid is likely to spread faster as autumn becomes winter, he adds.

Transmission is now at level four - meaning it is high or rising exponentially.

The Prime Minister has started to address the House of Commons.

He said: "We must act now to avoid still graver consequences later on. We have struck a delicate balance. It is because of the fortitude of British people we were able to avert an even worse catastrophe.

"We always knew the prospect of the second wave was real and as in Spain and France we have reached perilous turning point".

The director of Gloucestershire's Chambers of Commerce Business West says companies "want to see an extension of the Government's furlough scheme".

Ian Mean said businesses would be listening to the Prime Minister’s words closely.

"In his deliberations on this Covid precipice, Boris Johnson needs to be very careful that lockdowns that are too restrictive will probably hit business hard and really damage the economy," he said.

"The figures now being presented to government are very scary. There is no easy answer and business recovering now finds itself again in a cloud of uncertainty.

"Everybody’s health and wellbeing is obviously the priority but government must be careful not to completely shut down our economy."

The news that pubs, restaurants and bars in England will be forced to close at 10pm from Thursday is a "big blow" for hotels, according to one association boss.

Raphael Herzog, chair of the Bristol Hoteliers Association, said: "The hospitality sector is already on its knees with many hotels, restaurants and bars not even reopened yet.

“What difference will it make to Covid? In my view it will be little more than a marginal gain.

"The economic impact on sector will be devastating and social effect on millions of hospitality workers will be catastrophic."

Mr Herzog said a return to working from home would also hit city centre hospitality further.

He added: "While we continue to strive to keep infections low and teams and guests safe, we need a comprehensive package of support from the Government, including an extension of furlough, and the VAT cut and rates holiday extended."

Sir Keir Starmer is giving his first keynote speech as leader of the Labour Party.

He said that "warnings can't be ignored" but there would be "nothing inevitable about a second lockdown".

Mr Starmer added it would be "a sign of government failure, not an act of God".

He said: "It would take an immense toll on people's physical and mental health and on the economy."

He added: "We need a national effort to prevent a national lockdown...

"I want this to be the best country to grow up in, the best country to grow old in."