This is what the third full lockdown in England means as schools close and exams are cancelled

The country has entered third national lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this evening that tougher restrictions would come into force in England from midnight tonight.

Boris Johnson confirmed that schools would close and that exams this will be cancelled.

The latest restrictions are similar to those that were in place for the first lockdown in March.

Mr Johnson said: "The government is instructing you once again to stay at home."

He urged all to stay home, work from home unless absolutely necessary and to avoid travel.

People may leave the house for exercise or for essential tasks like food shopping.

The clinically vulnerable must shield again and will soon receive a letter.

All schools, primary, secondary, colleges and universities, will move to remote learning from tomorrow.

All schools, primary, secondary, colleges and universities, will move to remote learning from tomorrow.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock stoked the rumours earlier today when he said the Tier 3 restrictions were not enough to control the new variant.

He told Sky News: “We don’t rule anything out, and we’ve shown repeatedly that we will look at the public health advice and we will take the public health advice in terms of what is needed to control the spread of the disease.

“This new variant is much easier to catch, it is much more transmissible, and we’re now seeing the effect of that in lots of different parts of the country, unfortunately.

“And it means that, whereas the old Tier 3 was able to contain the old variant, that is proving increasingly difficult in all parts of the country.”

All sport except elite level sport must cease.