England lockdown could be extended, ministers warn

Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives – the old mantra for a new lockdown as England prepares to spend at least the next four weeks under stricter coronavirus measures. Ministers have already warned that if it’s not enough to bring the infection rate down – the lockdown could be extended.

In the last 24 hours  23,254 new coronavirus cases have been confirmed across the UK. A further 162 deaths have been reported. That takes the total to 46,717

Our Health and Social Care Editor Victoria Macdonald reports.