Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to make an announcement at a Downing Street press conference this afternoon.
Mr Johnson will make an 'urgent plea' to the nation at 5pm today (Jan 22) asking Brits to stick with coronavirus restrictions as cases continue to rise, the .
He is expected to issue a warning that it is too early to relax the current regulations - which have been in place in England for three weeks - and say the he cannot rule out that the national lockdown could be in place until the summer.
The Prime Minister - who is likely to be joined by medical and scientific experts - is also expected to give an update on the vaccine programme which has so far seen nearly five million people receive their first does of the jab.
Mr Johnson's speech comes a day after Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a new £800 find for anyone caught attended parties of more than 15 people during lockdown.
Ms Patel said: "The science is clear: such irresponsible behaviour poses a significant threat to public health.
"Not only to those in attendance but to our wonderful police officers who attend these events to shut them down.
"As this latest measure demonstrates, we will not stand by while a small number of individuals put others at risk."
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It also comes as the ministers consider paying £500 to everyone who tests positive for coronavirus, to increase the number of people abiding by the quarantine rules.
The proposal of extending £500 payments to everyone who tests positive for Covid-19 in England - rather than just those who are on low incomes and are unable to work from home - is estimated to cost up to £453 million per week.