The draconian new Tier 4 restrictions were implemented as southern areas were hit hard by a new virus strain. Of the 315 local areas in England, 282 saw a rise in case rates this week, 31 have seen a fall and two are unchanged. Speaking last night the Government's chief scientific advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, warned that the virus 'has taken off and it's moving fast'. "This strain has been increasing exponentially during the lockdown and during the tier 3 restrictions that Kent and other parts of the South East have been under. "Although the lockdown was enough to bring cases down elsewhere, it was not enough to stop this strain from spreading rapidly.

Source: Daily Mirror December 20, 2020 04:37 UTC