NEW restrictions are set to be put in place as coronavirus cases rise in England.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has this afternoon told Parliament that new measures will be needed as a "stitch in time to save nine" as coronavirus cases rose from 1,000 a day to more than 3,000 over the last month.

"We always knew that the prospect of a second wave was real," Mr Johnson said.

"We have reached a perilous turning. I wish I could reassure the house that the growing number of coronavirus cases is a function of more testing, but a rising proportion of the tests are yielding a positive result."

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The PM said the latest data suggests that a very small number of the population has antibodies, while evidence shows the virus is spreading to more vulnerable people.

"In the last fortnight, daily hospital admissions have more than doubled," Mr Johnson said.

The measures Mr Johnson laid out to Parliament are:

  • Face coverings will be required for shop and hospitality staff, taxis, and private hire vehicles. Customers should wear masks in restaurants unless sitting at a table eating.
  • Those who can work from home should, those who cannot should continue to go to work.
  • From Thursday, pubs and restaurants must operate table service only (except for takeaways), and must close at 10pm.
  • From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be allowed to attend weddings and receptions, although a maximum of 30 can still attend funerals.
  • Sporting events will also be hit by new limits. The exemptions to the rule of six will be reduced, banning indoor team sport, and the planned return of spectators to sports venues will now not go ahead from October 1.
  • There will be tighter penalties, with fines applying to businesses who fail to comply with the rules, while the penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence.

Mr Johnson said the restrictions announced could remain in place for “perhaps six months”.

“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," he said.

“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.”

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Sir Keir Starmer said he supported the new measures and that he encouraged people to follow the Government's guidance.