New coronavirus restrictions will close all pubs, bars, gyms, leisure centres, betting shops and casinos in Merseyside from Wednesday, Boris Johnson has announced.
But other areas with high infection rates, such as Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle and parts of Yorkshire, avoided additional restrictions after the prime minister backed down in the face of local opposition.
The moves came as Mr Johnson announced the introduction of a new Covid Alert Level system dividing the whole of England into three tiers with different restrictions to drive the virus down.
Under the new system, due to be approved by MPs on Tuesday and come into effect on Wednesday, every local authority area will be placed on Medium, High or Very High alert. There will be no areas at low alert.
