PARTS of Sussex face being placed into Tier 4 restrictions on boxing day, as a new strain of Covid-19 continues to spread, it has been reported.

West Sussex and parts of East Sussex currently not subjected to the top tier measures could be placed under the restrictions just a day after Christmas.

According to the MailOnline, the plans are to be discussed by Ministers today.

The meeting comes just days after London and parts of the South-East were plunged into Tier 4 restrictions.

It has been reported that the mutant strain in the South East has doubled the number of cases in a week, with another 36,804 new infections recorded yesterday.

The rate of infection in East Sussex now stands at 1,862 cases per 100,000 people.

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Despite the rise in cases, Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick insisted there will be no further changes to the Christmas plans despite speculation that more areas of England could be moved into a Tier 4 lockdown.

The Communities Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Covid operations committee will examine "what more we know now about the new variant" and its prevalence across the country.

The Argus: Traffic blocks the roads around the Port of DoverTraffic blocks the roads around the Port of Dover

"We know it's very heavily concentrated in London and the East of England and the South East, but it's not exclusively so, it's also present more widely - that's a source of concern," he said.

But "tomorrow is Christmas Eve, we don't have any intention of changing the guidelines with respect to Christmas".

He went on: "We are not going to change people's plans 24, 48 hours ahead of Christmas.

"However, the Prime Minister and others have been very clear that, even outside of Tier 4, there is a strong degree of personal judgment to be exercised here.

"It's still up to people to come to a conclusion as to how many members of their family or other households they want to bring together on Christmas Day.

"The strong advice is to keep it small, to keep it short and therefore to be safe."

It comes as four new coronavirus deaths were recorded at East Sussex Trust in the latest 24-hour period.

NHS England figures show 158 people had died in hospital at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust as of 5pm on Monday.

That was an increase of four compared to Sunday, when there were 154.

Across the number of recorded cases increased by 36,803 over the period, to 2,110,314.