London to move from Tier-1 to Tier-2 Covid-19 restrictions on Saturday

Londoners will be subject to Tier-2 Covid-19 restrictions from Saturday, meaning that the mixing of households indoors and at pubs and restaurants will not be allowed.

Under the change form Tier-1 to Tier-2 restrictions, or from 'medium' to 'high' Covid-19 risk, the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants will also continue to apply.

The UK's capital wasn't alone, with French President Emmanuel macron announcing overnight moves to confine residents in nine French cities to their homes between 6am and 9pm for four weeks, also starting from 17 October.

A similar decision in Germany was met with resistance from state premiers but across the Continent leaders were attempting to juggle the conflicting priorities of public health and protecting the economic recovery.

Elsewhere in the UK, Northern Ireland was set to close schools from 18 October and Wales was looking at ways to limit travel from the worst-affected areas of England.

-- More to follow --