Covid-19: New restrictions for parts of England likely next week

There could also be a ban on overnight stays away from home in these areas.

A final decision on the time period or extent of potential closures has not yet been made.

The government is also likely to introduce a three-tier system for local lockdowns.

Under the system, different parts of the country would be placed in different categories – although ministers are still discussing the precise details of the toughest level of restrictions over the next couple of days.

A formal announcement is not likely to come until Monday, according to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told BBC Breakfast the government was “currently considering what steps to take” and the precise measures for different areas would be announced “in the coming days”.

He did not rule out the possibility of pubs being closed but said measures would be “proportionate and localised”.

He added that the government was trying to give “greater consistency on rules so they’re easier to understand” and was working on “slightly broader canvases of regions or cities and counties to avoid differences in people’s daily lives if they drive over the border”.

From Friday, all pubs and restaurants across central Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, are to close, while in the rest of Scotland hospitality venues must shut at 18:00 BST and alcohol can only be served outdoors.

Industry leaders are warning the measures could be the final straw for many businesses.

On Wednesday the number of UK cases rose by 14,162, with a further 70 deaths reported.

The planned tightening of restrictions in parts of England follows rising infection rates across much of the country, with medical leaders warning the NHS is at risk of becoming overwhelmed.

Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle Upon Tyne have the highest infection rates in the country.

A government source told the BBC the situation in the north-west and north-east of England was “very troubling”, with growing numbers of hospital admissions and more elderly people in intensive care.