A new type of COVID-19 spreading in southeast England

London's pubs and eateries are to close this week as authorities discovered a new mutation of COVID-19 growing in southeast England.

Wednesday, 16th December 2020

A man standing in front of a banner in England

London's pubs and eateries are to close this week as authorities discovered a new mutation of COVID-19 growing in southeast England. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that a "new variant" had been recognised by scientists and could be compared with a faster spread of coronavirus. "Initial analysis implies this variant is growing faster than the current types of the coronavirus," he told parliament on Monday. "We've currently found over a thousand cases with this variant, predominantly in the south of England, although cases have been identified in over 60 different local government regions , and numbers are growing heavily. "Comparable exceptions have been recognised in other countries over the last few months." Hancock said the UK had told the World Health Organisation about the new variant. It came as officials confirmed London would move of Wednesday into Tier 3, the highest level of coronavirus restrictions performed in England. The surroundings and neighbourhoods of Essex and Hertfordshire, to the north and east of the capital, will also shift up to the high tier at the same time. The measures came into force one time after midnight on Wednesday morning. Under these new restrictive measures, pubs and restaurants cannot constantly accept dine-in customers and must close properly if they do not offer a takeaway service. Tier 3 rules also mean expert sporting accessories cannot admit viewers in the ground. Top-flight London football teams like Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will have to play fixtures slow closed doors. Wedding functions are allowed for a gathering of up to 15 people, but acceptance may not be held. London was previously in the less restrictive Tier 2.