UK coronavirus LIVE: Boris Johnson warns that chance of 'normal' Christmas depends on following rules as he announces three-tier lockdown system

Boris Johnson said the country was entering a "new and crucial phase" in the fight against coronavirus, as he delivered a Downing Street press conference about the new "three-tier" system of lockdown restrictions.

Flanked by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, the Prime Minister warned that hopes for a relatively normal Christmas this year depended on the public following his coronavirus rules.

It came after Mr Johnson announced a new "three-tier" system for lockdown restrictions. Pubs, bars, casinos and gyms in the Liverpool city region will be forced to close from Wednesday after the city was classified a “very high” risk area due to surging rates of Covid-19 infection.

In “high risk” areas, indoor mixing between households will be banned, while current national restrictions — including the rule of six and the 10pm curfew — will apply to all other “medium risk” areas.

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