Maldon district's Covid-19 infection rate passed 900 per 100,000 cases on the day a new national lockdown was announced.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the tough new lockdown for England using the now familiar 'stay at home' message at 8pm this evening (Monday, 4 January). The lockdown will start at midnight tonight.

People must stay at home except for essential shopping, work if this is not possible from home, exercise, seeking medical help including vaccination and escaping domestic abuse.

Shielding has been re-instated, with those who need to asked to shield again.

In this lockdown, all schools will be closed except for the children of key workers, vulnerable children and those with special needs. Nurseries and early years settings can remain open. Schools will remain closed until at least the February half term.

The Government will be meeting with Ofqual (the examinations regulator) to determine what alternatives can be put in place for this year's GCSE and A-level exams.

The country was moved to the highest level of Covid-19 alert - level five - as the NHS is now in threat of being overwhelmed.

The PM told how the number of Covid-19 patients now in the country's hospitals has reached 27,000 - 40 per cent more than at the peak of the pandemic in the spring. Deaths have risen by 20 per cent in the past week nationally and "will rise further".

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Mr Johnson added: "It's clear that we need to do more to bring this new variant under control while the vaccine is rolled out."

Maldon district's Covid-19 infection rate is now at 906.8 cases per 100,000 population for the seven days leading up to 30 December. The rate for Essex for the same period is 1,013.7 cases per 100,000.

Full details of the new lockdown rules and exemptions can be found by visiting the Government website via the link here.