Boris Johnson will host a virtual press conference from Downing Street at 5pm.

It comes as multiple hospitals declared ‘critical incidents’ in recent days, with experts warning the NHS is ‘in a state of crisis’.

Six NHS trusts fear patient care may be ‘compromised’ as more than one million people across the UK are now in isolation.

Hospitalisations in the epicentre of London appear to have ‘plateaued’ but other areas are said to be at ‘the foothills’ of the new wave.

There are ‘unprecedented’ health worker shortages, while staff still able to come in are ‘exhausted’ after giving up their days off, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation has warned.

But vaccines minister Maggie Throup insisted ‘Plan B is working’, which suggests the government will refuse to bring in new restrictions.

On a visit to a vaccination centre yesterday, Mr Johnson warned it would be ‘absolute folly to say that this thing is all over now bar the shouting’.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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