Britain faces new four-week national lockdown to save Christmas after scientists warn of ‘4,000 Covid deaths a day’

After a U-turn on the prospect, an announcement is expected this week plunging the country into a second national lockdown, with the aim to save Christmas from being ruined by the virus running wild.

It comes as:

• Four-week national lockdown set to be introduced next week 
• Everything will close except essential shops and educational settings, includings schools and nurseries 
• Britain faces
• Panic buyers hit the shops to stock up on loo roll and milk
• Brits rush to get a haircut and stock up on 'emergency wine' to prepare for second lockdown

Tough nationwide Covid restrictions could be introduced as soon as next Wednesday — and last until December.

Boris Johnson is set to address the nation today in a press conference at 6:30pm after crunch cabinet talks at 1.30pm.

Pubs and restaurants in England face being shut for a month-long lockdown after scientists gave the PM “grim” data on the second wave. He is tipped to announce the move on Monday.

The curbs, which would see everything closed except essential shops and educational settings, could be introduced on Wednesday and remain in place until December 1.

It comes after government scientists presented the PM with “grim” data on the second wave, despite the R-rate falling.

CLAMPDOWN FOR CHRISTMAS

Grim projections looking at all outcomes have left Downing Street fretting about the festive period, and the spread of the virus.

Crucially, the projections predict NHS beds will become overwhelmed with Covid patients.

Government medics have warned that some hospitals may not even have enough staff to cope with the extra patients on top of the normal winter strains on the NHS.

Pubs, bars and restaurants face being closed for weeks under the clampdown — which the Government is determined to avoid calling a new lockdown.

There is an ongoing debate within Whitehall over whether to impose national restrictions or toughen up local measures.

Options being considered are ramping up the current tiered system of Covid restrictions by adding a fourth level — dubbed Tier 3 Plus.

That has been suggested for the biggest hotspots — but some insiders prefer a blanket approach of the same restrictions across the country.

And they said the PM was likely to announce new nationwide rules.

The move would signal a major U-turn from Boris, who has repeatedly insisted he wants to pursue a regional approach.

But the Government has become increasingly isolated after Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales imposed mini-lockdowns.

Brits are plotting to escape to the country as England faces a new national lockdown - sparking fears of Paris-style traffic chaos.

As news spread of the expected announcement this week people declared they would flee from cities to enjoy lockdown in the countryside.

Asked if a second national lockdown was worth damaging the economy and people’s mental health, Professor Christina Pagel of the Government’s Sage advisory group said: “I think it’s inevitable.

"And given that it’s inevitable I think the sooner you do it the quicker it’s over and the more lives you save.”

Experts warned a circuit breaker style two-week lockdown would now not be long enough to curb infections.

They told No 10 it is too late for that option now, with a month-long national lockdown the only way to bring down cases,

Earlier yesterday, Sage scientists had left Brits in a Covid muddle by calling for tougher curbs as the R rate falls.

They said a four-week total national lockdown was the only way to save Christmas.

But its own figures showed the R number — the number of people each infected person passes the virus to — is coming down.

Meanwhile, there were hugely conflicting numbers from various sources on daily infections.

A Government-funded study called REACT-1 claimed it was 96,000, the Office for National Statistics put it at nearly 52,000 and research from King’s College London suggested it was 43,569.

But the official daily update issued for lab-confirmed cases was 24,405 — up from 23,065 on Thursday.

 A further 274 new deaths were also reported yesterday, down from 280 a day earlier, taking the toll to 46,229.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had yesterday refused to rule out a national lockdown like those in France and Germany.

He said: “We’re always ready for further measures that we can take.”

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

• The NHS could be overwhelmed by Covid this winter without "decisive intervention", medics have warned
• Britain is on the brink of passing 1,000,000 coronavirus cases as the country nears a grim milestone
• More than 85,000 people could die in the second wave of coronavirus, a paper from the Government's Sage group has warned
• The R rate has dropped for the second week in a row - but remains above 1 across the country.

Government scientific advisers are understood to have warned Boris Johnson that a longer lockdown is now necessary.

They believe all areas will need to enter Tier 3 — with some facing even stricter controls.

But the leader of the UK’s largest Covid survey called for calm.

Prof Tim Spector, from King’s College London, said that hospital deaths are still “average” for the season and people should be reassured.

Infection rates in the North of England are still around four-times higher than the South, although the gap is narrowing.