England will end a national Covid-19 lockdown on Dec 2 and move into tougher tiered regional restrictions than before, with more areas facing severe constraints to prevent the virus from reigniting, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office has said.

“The Prime Minister and his scientific advisors are clear the virus is still present — and without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control again before vaccines and mass testing have had an effect,” a spokeswoman said, according to Reuters.

“That would put in jeopardy the progress the country has made, and once again risk intolerable pressure on the NHS (National Health Service).”

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