Schools shut in England’s third national lockdown to halt coronavirus surge

Boris Johnson pinned hopes on the rollout of vaccines to ease the restrictions in mid-February (PA)

England is in its third national lockdown after Boris Johnson shut schools to most pupils and imposed the toughest restrictions since March in an attempt to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed by surging coronavirus infections.

In a televised address to the nation on Monday evening, the British prime minister pinned hopes on the rollout of vaccines to ease the restrictions in mid-February.