Three-tier system of regional Covid-19 restrictions in England

The PM told Parliament the policy “can bring down the virus” but that he did not rule out going further.

But Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer called for a “circuit breaker” – a short period of tough restrictions in England to bring the virus under control.

He said such a move was supported by government science advisers.

The PM said the three-tier system hoped to “avoid the misery of a national lockdown”.

However, he added: “I rule out nothing of course in combating the virus, but we are going to do it with the local, the regional approach that can drive down and will drive down the virus, if it is properly implemented.”

The new system has begun in England, with the Liverpool region the first to enter the highest alert level.

Most of the country is in the lowest tier – medium – but millions of people in the North and the Midlands face extra curbs on households mixing.

Schools, close-contact services and all retail outlets will remain open under basic measures, even in the highest alert areas.

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, schools will close from Monday and pubs and restaurants face new restrictions on Friday.

Sir Keir said a “circuit breaker” would help buy time to “save lives, fix testing, and save the NHS”.

The Labour leader had called for its introduction at a news conference on Tuesday, but said his proposal would ensure schools were kept open as normal by using the upcoming October half term.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said Mr Johnson rejected the advice of government science advisers, who suggested a circuit breaker on 21 September.

But the PM said the three-tier system was an “opportunity to keep things going, to keep our kids in schools, to keep our businesses going”.

“That, I think, is what the people of this country want to do. This is our opportunity to do that and suppress the virus where it is surging,” he said.

The PM said the disease was now “appearing much more strongly” in some parts of the country than others so a different approach was needed to that taken earlier in the year.

He highlighted the fact there were 670 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the Liverpool region, compared with 33 per 100,000 in Cornwall.

“That is why the tiered approach… is the right way forward,” he said.

“We want to put in the most stringent measures necessary in the places where the virus is surging in order to get it down where it is surging,” he added.

“That is the logical thing to do.”

On Monday, a further 17,234 coronavirus cases were recorded in the UK, while 143 more people have died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.