National lockdown should only be used in extreme circumstances, says WHO special envoy

A new system that will see each county rated on a scale of 1 to 5, based on the handle it has on the virus, is set to be unveiled by Government next week.

The Government should not impose a national lockdown if the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise.

That is according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) which says the measure should only be used in extreme circumstances.