THE PRIME Minister has set out new restrictions aimed to curb a rise in coronavirus cases.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday lunchtime, Boris Johnson announced six new measures that would be introduced in England.

Pubs, bars and restaurants must operate a table service from Thursday, whilst outlets must close by 10pm in measures replicating those in areas where a local lockdown is in place.

Staff working in retail and indoor hospitality must wear masks, and face coverings are also going to be mandatory in taxis.

Additionally, office workers and those who can are being urged to work from home.

He added: “These rules will be enforced by tighter penalties… the penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence.”

The latest restrictions could last "perhaps six months", Mr Johnson said.

The full list of measures:

  • Office workers should work from home, but if people need to go to work, they should do so.
  • Pubs and restaurants, except for takeaways, must operate table service only from Thursday. They must close from 10pm.
  • Staff in retail and hospitality must wear masks indoors, whilst face coverings will be needed in taxis.
  • The Covid-secure guidance for workplaces released by the government previously will now become law.
  • Only 15 people can attend weddings from Monday.
  • Plan to ease rules to allow trials of fans at sporting events from next month will be suspended.

Mr Johnson told the Commons: “I fervently want to avoid taking this step, as do the devolved administrations but we will only be able to avoid it if our new measures work and our behaviour changes.

“We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments, new forms of mass-testing but unless we palpably make progress we should assume that the restrictions that I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.

“For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives and I must tell the House and the country that our fight against it will continue.”

'Deaths would increase if we do nothing'

The PM also warned daily deaths from Covid-19 will increase unless action is taken.

The Prime Minister told MPs: “In the last fortnight daily hospital admissions in England have more than doubled.

“Tens of thousands of daily infections in October would, as night follows day, lead to hundreds of daily deaths in November and those numbers would continue to grow unless we act.”

'Shielding not necessary yet'

To those shielding, Mr Johnson added: “Following advice from our senior clinicians, our guidance continues to be that you do not need to shield, except in local lockdown areas, and we will keep this under constant review.”