Boris Johnson announces new national lockdown for England as coronavirus cases surge

England will re-enter national lockdown until at least mid-Febrary to combat a fast-spreading variant of coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says.

A police officer directs traffic at the entrance to the closed ferry terminal in Dover, England. Source: AP

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday local time announced a six-week lockdown for England's 56 million people, including the closure of schools, after a surge in coronavirus cases brought warnings that hospitals could soon face collapse.

Mr Johnson stressed that Britain was leading the way with the introduction of two vaccines, including one from Oxford University and AstraZeneca which started its rollout on Monday.

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