Tier 4 could last until EASTER amid fears tough Covid lockdown could be extended across England

"It’s very unlikely anything less than really effective measures are going to control it.

"My concern is people are not going to comply. It’s really important people appreciate the danger.

"It does seem inevitable it will spread but it doesn’t mean it’s useless trying to prevent that from happening."

Shops, restaurants and gyms were yet again forced to close as the new rules came into force yesterday.

Yesterday, the Health Secretary said it would be "very difficult" to keep the deadly bug under control without the vaccine having been widely administered after the new strain emerged.

And speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Matt Hancock yesterday admitted "we have got a long way to go".

He said: "The cases in the Tier 4 areas have absolutely skyrocketed in the last few days, two weeks or so. We have got a long way to go to sort this.

"We've essentially got to get that vaccine."

And when pushed over whether Brits in Tier 4 areas would remain in lockdown into the new year - despite a review expected on December 30 - he added: "Given how much faster this new variant spreads, it's going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine."

The Pfizer/BioNTechvaccine is currently being rolled out across the country with hopes the 25million vulnerable adults will be vaccinated by Easter.

The 40million doses of the vaccine are expected to be rolled out during the first half of next year and will be enough to vaccinate up to a third of the population.

It is also hoped Oxford/Astrazeneca jab will also be approved in the next few weeks.

But public health leaders have warned that the mutated form of Covid is already sweeping across the whole country.

Dr Susan Hopkins said every other part of the region has had cases detected in small numbers and risk seeing a similar explosion if infections are allowed to spread further.

She told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “It has been detected in many other parts of the country.

“Every region has cases but with very small numbers.

“It has also been detected in Wales, in Scotland, we have not had any detected in Northern Ireland.”

Brits were told their Christmas had been cancelled as Tier 4 was rolled out yesterday at midnight.

Boris Johnson said he had "bitter regret" over the new rules but said the new rules were necessary as he announced the news on Saturday.

Travel and mixing households are now banned under the new highest level restrictions - with families elsewhere only allowed to form Christmas bubbles for one day on December 25 itself.

Mr Johnson said the tough crackdown will help save lives as a new mutant strain of coronavirus which is 70 per cent more contagious sweeps through the south of England.

He said: "Yes, Christmas this year will be very different, but we must be realistic. 

"We are sacrificing our chance to see loved ones this Christmas, so we have a better chance of protecting their lives so we can see them at future Christmases. "

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon introduced a travel ban to other parts of the UK and announced a brutal three week lockdown from Boxing Day.

The First Minister said 17 cases of the new mutant strain of Covid has been identified north of the border.

Wales has also gone into lockdown while Northern Ireland will enter a six-week shutdown on December 26.

In England, the PM warned the nation he could not ignore the terrifying new strain and vowed: "We have to act to protect the public."

Mr Johnson said: "As Prime Minister, it is my duty to take the difficult decisions, to do what is right to protect the people of this country. 

"Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, and the potential risk it poses, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned.

"I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me."

The new restrictions would be reviewed again on December 30.