ENGLAND will go into a four-week lockdown from Thursday, Boris Johnson has announced.

Non-essential shops and hospitality businesses will have to close but, unlike the first lockdown in March, schools and universities will remain open.

Johnson said the NHS "will not be there for us and our families" if coronavirus cases continue to rise.

He says from Thursday people in England must stay at home and can only leave for medical reasons, to exercise, shop for food and essentials and exercise.

The furlough scheme will be extended until December.

On Monday the PM will update Parliament on the new measures and MPs will vote on the plans on Thursday. 

"The virus is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst case scenario of our scientific advisers," the PM told the Downing Street briefing.

It comes after Cabinet discussions on a possible England-only coronavirus lockdown were leaked to the media last night.

A “senior government source” told The Times that an announcement was coming as soon as Monday as coronavirus cases rise faster than the “worst-case scenario” predicted.

There was reportedly fury in Number 10 this morning after the leak, which disclosed the details explored by the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet members at yesterday’s meeting.

READ MORE: 'Fury' in Number 10 as England lockdown plans leak to media

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