The prime minister will address the nation today to further set out England’s new, tougher coronavirus three-tier system.

Boris Johnson is expected to hold the No 10 press briefing this evening, however a time has not yet been confirmed but it is expected to take place at 5pm.

It will be the first announcement he has given in-person rather than via video call in two weeks, after he was forced to self-isolate after coming into contact with a MP who later tested positive for Covid-19.

The press conference will be held after the health secretary announces which tier each local authority will be assigned in the Commons at 11.30am.

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England’s new tier system will come into effect after the nation’s month-long lockdown ends on December 2 and will be relaxed for a five-day period over Christmas.

The tiers will come into effect at 12.01am on Wednesday and will remain in place until March, with a partial lifting of rules between December 23 – 27.

Ministers will review measures every two weeks and if by December 16 there are areas which are successfully lowering transmission rates, they could be dropped down a tier ahead of Christmas.

Reports suggest London and Liverpool are to avoid the strictest tier three measures and will be placed in tier two along with the majority of the country.

It is thought only a small number of rural areas will get away with the softest tier one measures, with reports suggesting they will include parts of eastern England and remote areas in Cornwall and Cumbria.

The chancellor confirmed this morning that the PM will be holding a press briefing later today, as he defended the new tier system amid criticism that the rules are largely similar to those of the current lockdown.

Rishi Sunak told BBC Breakfast: ‘I know people are frustrated, of course it’s frustrating living under restrictions…

‘The prime minister will be doing a press conference later, the health secretary will be making a statement in Parliament later as well.

‘We have a Cabinet meeting later this morning to go over these things and finalise them.

‘But people will see a tangible change, wherever they are, compared to the last four weeks.’

Ministers have warned the nation that they may be disappointed by the tier system, particularly those under the strictest tier three measures.

This story is being updated, more to follow…

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