After testing positive. The highest figure since april. The talks in brussels continue withh suggestions a post brexit trade deal between the eu and the uk could be finalised within hours. In the first lorries are starting to leave after the borders have reopened with france. But thousands of drivers are still waiting for covid tests. The Health Secretary matt hancock has confirmed that more areas of england will move into tier 4 the highest level of restrictions. Under tier 4 people must stay at home, non essential retail is shut and movement in or out of the area is not allowed. He made the announcement at a press conference in downing street this afternoon. The Health Secretary said from boxing day, norfolk, suffolk, cambridgeshire and essex would move into tier 4 along with oxfordshire, waverley in surrey and hampshire including portsmouth and southampton, but excluding the new forest. More areas of england will move to tier 3, including bristol, somerset, gloucestershire, the isle
Hours. And there is continued disruption in dover. The borders have reopened with france but thousands of lorry drivers are still waiting for their covid tests. Hello, welcome to bbc news. In the last half an hour matt hancock held a News Conference in downing street to confirm more areas of england will move into tier 4, the highest level of coronavirus restrictions. People must stay at home, non essential retail is closed and movement in or out of the area isnt allowed. Lets recap the main points. The Health Secretary said from boxing day, norfolk, suffolk, cambridgeshire and essex would move into ts four along with oxfordshire, waverly and surrey and hampshire, including portsmouth and southampton, but excluding the new forest. More areas of england will move into tier 3, bristol, somerset, gloucestershire, the isle of wight, the new forest, cheshire and warrington. Matt hancock also said two new cases of another new variant of coronavirus had been detected in the uk, both are conta
Park in kent after france reopened its border with the uk. We start the programme on brexit because there is increasing speculation a trade deal between the uk and the eu could be agreed as early as tonight. It is understood the broad shape of an agreement is there but theres still some discussion over details. Our europe editor katya adler has the latest from brussels. The expectation here in brussels is that tonight is the night. Or at least that it should be. Eu diplomats say there is so little difference now between the the two sides. That said, they are continuing to negotiate this evening on the last sticking point. Weve spoken so much about fish that eu keep some fishing rights in uk waters after brexit. And all the complexities surrounding that. The Prime Minister is said to have been in very close contact with the president of the European Commission who of course represent all the eu countries in his discussion. That makes absolute sense. Because its only at those top politic