THE prime minister is today expected to outline the government’s ‘winter plan’ for restrictions after the month-long England lockdown, which is due to end on December 2.

It is understood that a version of the three-tier system introduced ahead of lockdown will be back - but the exact nature of the measures may vary.

Here are the updates we are expecting from Westminster this week ...

Monday, November 23

The prime minister will today outline what this new, heightened, three-tier system will involve.

It is expected that Boris Johnson will tell MPs this afternoon that non-essential shops can open in all three tiers after the current restrictions expire on December 2, in a boost for retailers during the festive period.

Following this morning's good news about the UK vaccine thought to have a 90 per cent prevention rate, a proposal to deploy a major testing scheme is also likely from the prime minister - in an attempt to win over rebels on the Conservative backbenches who were opposed to the lockdown measures of this month.

When the Commons voted on the current lockdown earlier this month, 32 Conservatives rebelled to oppose the measures and 17 more, including former prime minister Theresa May, abstained.

Appearing virtually in the Commons from his test and trace-ordered quarantine at 3.30pm this afternoon, Mr Johnson is also expected to announce major rapid testing programmes for all areas put into the highest tier of restrictions.

He will also set out a trial of the repeat testing of close contacts of individuals who test positive for Covid-19 to prevent them from having to isolate, having got his proposals signed off by his Cabinet on Sunday.

It is expected that this will be followed by a televised address later this evening - although we are still awaiting confirmation on that.

Tuesday, November 24

The rules surrounding Christmas will be the question on many people’s minds.

Mr Johnson will set out the basis of plans today (Monday) to allow a small number of households across the UK to mix over a limited number of days around Christmas, but is not expected to be in a position to give the specifics.

The Daily Telegraph reported that cinemas will be allowed to reopen in England for places in Tier 1 and 2, and midnight mass and Christingle services will be permitted in all three tiers.

The paper added that pubs and restaurants will face the harshest of the new measures with businesses in the new Tier 3 only allowed to offer takeaways, while those in Tier 2 must serve food with any drinks.

Mr Johnson is understood to be preparing to unveil a plan so that while last orders must be called at 10pm, people will get an extra hour to finish their food and drinks, with opening hours to be extended until 11pm.

Over the weekend, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove met with leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to endorse “a shared objective of facilitating some limited additional household bubbling for a small number of days”.

But the public will be “advised to remain cautious” and told that “wherever possible people should avoid travelling and minimise social contact”, a statement from his department said.

Mr Gove, Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon, Wales’s Mark Drakeford and Northern Ireland’s Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill “reiterated the importance of allowing families and friends to meet in a careful and limited way” in a meeting on Saturday.

The Cabinet Office said talks are continuing to finalise the agreement, including over travel arrangements, but that it is hoped the conclusion will come “this week”, while the Scottish Government said “no agreement has been reached”.

However, Alex Wickham, editor at POLITICO London Playbook, tweeted this morning that he understands a full Christmas plan announcement may happen on Tuesday, November 24.

Thursday, November 26

Finally, while the new, heightened tier system is expected to be outlined today - it will be Thursday before we know where Andover is placed on the scale. 

Before November 5, Test Valley was considered a ‘tier 1’ (medium alert level) area, but it is not guaranteed that this will be the case this time - or known yet exactly what each tier level will mean.

In Test Valley, just seven new cases were recorded yesterday, but the number of deaths is increasing in the borough, with 5 reported in the past week.