BORIS Johnson announced the country would be put into lockdown at the start of January.

It follows the regional tier system which failed to control the spread of the new coronavirus variant.

Here we look at when restrictions will be eased in more detail…

What are the current rules in England?

The government have warned that around one in three people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without even realising.

The current lockdown rules are to stay at home unless:

- You are shopping for necessities

- You are going to work and cannot work from home

- You are going out for exercise (with your household, support bubble or one other person)

- You are meeting your support bubble or childcare bubble

- You are getting medical help

- You are taking a child to school who is eligible

- New government guidance says you should stay ‘local’ meaning in the village, town or part of the city where you live.

When will lockdown end?

In a televised address to the nation on January 4, the Prime Minister pinned hopes on the rollout of the vaccines to ease the restrictions but warned that the measures being introduced are expected to last until at least the school half-term in mid-February.

His moved followed Nicola Sturgeon imposing a lockdown on Scotland for the rest of January – with schools also closed

Will the restrictions be tightened?

Earlier this week Matt Hancock addressed the speculation about further restrictions in a press conference, including stopping the bubbling of single households.

He said the government would not ‘rule out’ taking ‘further action’ if they had to but urged everybody to ‘act like they have the virus’.

What is the situation across the world?

The World Health Organisation held a press conference at the start of the week, giving an update on the situation globally.