Restaurants, bars and pubs face closures as part of possible second lockdown

Restaurants, pubs and other hospitality businesses could could be shut or asked to close early for a few weeks amid a rise in virus cases in England.

The new restrictions are being touted as a national “circuit break”, according to the BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg.

The number of cases of the virus has doubled every seven to eight days, with more than 3,300 new cases reported on Thursday.

Schools and workplaces would remain open but hospitality businesses would have “circuit breaks” – essentially shutting their doors or changing their opening hours for a few weeks.