Cornwall and England is to go into national lockdown as of the early hours of Wednesday morning - although people should start following the rules from now. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has just finished addressing the nation and one of the big announcements was that schools must close until at least February half term and move to remote learning to all but children of key workers.

Mr Johnson said: "We've been doing everything in our power to keep schools open. We know how important each day is for children in education.

"It isn't that schools aren't safe. Schools may none the less become vectors for transmission."

Provision will be put in place for free school meals and technology for students without access.

READ NEXT: 

He said the government recognised it wouldn't be possible for all exams to take place this year and that talks would be put in place about the next steps.

The country will be moving to Alert Level 5 and vulnerable people have been told the shield again.

He said: "It's clear we need to do more together to bring this virus under control.

"In England we must go into a national lockdown tough enough to contain this variant.

"This government is instructing you to stay at home."

You must only leave home within limited reasons.

-Shop

-Exercise

-Work if you can't from home

-Medical reasons

-To escape domestic abuse

He said the number of Covid patients in hospital has risen by 70 per cent in the last week - with figures 40 per cent higher than in the first wave.

He said: "We now have a new variant of the virus. It's been frustrating and alarming at the speed the variant is spreading."

READ NEXT: 

Scientists believe it is between 50 per cent and 70 per cent more spreadable.

He said the leaders of other UK nations share his view that this is a pivotal moment and will be taking similar steps.

Mr Johnson concluded: "Thanks to the miracle of science not only is the end in sight but we know exactly how we will get there.

"Now more than ever we must pull together. You must follow the rules from now, they will become law from the early hours of Wednesday morning."

But Mr Johnson said one big difference to last year was that vaccines are now taking place, with the pace picking up thanks to the new Oxford vaccine.

By the middle of February, if all goes well, the government hopes to have vaccinated everyone in the four top priority groups.

-All residents in care home and their carers

-Everyone over 70

-Frontline care workers

-Everyone clinically vulnerable.

However, he warned: "Even if we achieve this goal there is a time lag of two to three weeks between receiving the vaccine and getting immunity.

"We should receive cautious about the timetable ahead."

Leader of the opposition Kier Starmer backed the measures of the government and said now was the moment to "pull together."