Stay at home for New Year's Eve, pleads Boris Johnson - as Leeds stays in Tier 3

In his 5pm press conference on Wednesday, December 30, the Prime Minister said: “All of these measures in the end are designed to save lives and protect the NHS.

"For that very reason I must ask you to follow the rule where you live tomorrow night and see in the new year safely at home.

“That means not meeting up with friends or family indoors unless in the same household or support bubble and avoiding large gatherings of any kind

“We are still in the tunnel of this pandemic, the light however is not merely visible... the tunnel has been shortened, we’re moving faster through it and that gives me great confidence about the future in the Spring.”

National medical director at NHS England Professor Stephen Powis reiterated a warning from Professor Van-Tam to keep New Year's Eve celebrations to a minimum.

He said: "We know it’s the end of the year, it’s a time where people traditionally want to celebrate.

“It’s absolutely vital that, this year, everyone continues to follow the guidance by staying at home and not mixing.”

He added: “We can all play a part in fighting this terrible virus.

“Covid loves a crowd, so please leave the parties for later in the year.”

Professor Powis also paid tribute to the NHS staff.

He told the Downing Street press conference: “They (staff) have absolutely gone the extra mile, in fact they have gone many, many extra miles over the course of the year.”

This comes following a Tier review which will see Leeds remain in Tier 3, whilst three quarters of the country will be living under the highest Tier 4 restrictions from Thursday, New Year's Eve.

Mr Johnson also laid out the plans for the return of pupils to secondary schools after the Christmas break.

He said: “In secondary schools all vulnerable children and children of critical workers will go back next week across England as originally planned, but we will ask exam year pupils in secondary to learn remotely during the first week of term and return to the classroom from January 11.

“The remaining secondary school pupils – non-exam groups – will go back a week later, that is from January 18.”

However Mr Johnson suggested these plans could change again depending on rates of infection and added: “I want to stress that depending on the spread of the disease it may be necessary to take further action in their cases as well in the worst affected areas.”