Pressure on the nhs. Elections are taking place in the us state of georgia which will decide the course ofjoe bidens presidency. Mood of the nation as people are told to stay at home well look at the impact the latest lockdowns are having on our Mental Health. And coming up on bbc news, englands cricketers have been tested again for coronavirus in sri lanka ahead of their two test series. Moeen ali is isolating after testing positive. Good afternoon, and welcome to the bbc news at one. With the whole of the uk facing another period of Strict Lockdown we appear to be back where we started. Well have to stay at home, schools are closed and even if you do venture out theres not much you can do to cheer yourself up. Few shops, no restaurants, and no pubs. And thatll be the case for weeks wales is already in lockdown and Northern Ireland is expected to go the same way. Englands rules come into force tomorrow scotlands started at midnight. When will it end . Well much, of course, will depend on the success of the governments vaccination programme. There was some good news for businesses. Chancellor rishi sunak saying they will receive support grants worth up to £9,000 to help them survive the latest covid lockdown. 0ur Political CorrespondentDamian Grammaticas reports. The heart of london today. Still stop the pace of life flowing again. New restrictions coming into force right across the country. Quiet in downing street, at the centre of this National Emergency from where the Prime Minister laid out the new measures last night. With most of the country already under extreme measures, its clear that we need to do more together to bring this new variant under control while our vaccines are rolled out. Under england s new stay at home rules you will only be allowed out for work can be done at home, for education, child care or medical reasons, shopping for essentials like food and medicine, and to exercise but only once a day. And in addition, schools and colleges are now closed for the foreseeable future, there is no mixing with others accepting your support bubble. Take away food is allowed but not take drinks. What prompted these new restrictions is the surge in infection rates, the new variant of the virus is more infectious but the old rules were not enough to keep it in check. And the Government Faces questions about what has been a rapid change of policy. This was just 2a hours ago, children back at school. 0n just 2a hours ago, children back at school. On sunday, the Prime Minister had said they should return, and then, one day later on the very first day of term, reversed his decision. All education will now be done remotely. The Prime Minister has acted decisively in the face of new information and we have had nowt to grapple with a new variant of the virus and thats caused an uptick in cases and hospitalisations and deaths, as the Prime Minister set out and it was right that we acted reg retta bly out and it was right that we acted regrettably come regard to schools, but to protect peoples lives and their health at this difficult time. From wales to scotland and Northern Ireland, new lockdown measures are now in place in almost every corner of the land. There were fears without action the nhs could have been overwhelmed. Unlike last year, though, a vaccine is here but it needs time to work. I know its really tough for everybody but we need to do this to make sure that we can save lives and protect the nhs while we get people vaccinated. The government says its aim is for 13 Million People to be offered vaccinations in the next seven weeks. The opposition says it supports the new lockdown but promises have been made before and this target has to be kept. There is no room for error by the government here. We cannot have yet another overpromising and under delivering. But we have all got to play our part andi but we have all got to play our part and i have offered my support, i think we would all offer our support, many volunteers that want to come forward. This is a national effort, it is mission critical. To come forward. This is a national effort, it is missioncritical. Even with the vaccination programme, the great measures will have to be in place for weeks, certainly into fabric, it may be beyond. 0nly place for weeks, certainly into fabric, it may be beyond. Only when infection rates sync and immunity rises, can they be lifted. Damian grammaticas, bbc news. Although the lockdown announced by borisjohnson last night applies to england, there are strict measures in place across the uk. In a moment, well hear from our correspondents Hywel Griffith in cardiff and chris page at stormont, but first, Alexandra Mackenzie is in glasgow for us. This scotland s first day back into lockdown. Scotland went back into lockdown. Scotland went back into lockdown at midnight, much tougher restrictions, thats due to carry on until the end of the month. But could continue even further if the number of cases continues to rise. It means all of mainland scotland and some island communities cannot leave their homes, they are under a strict stay at home order and its illegal to leave your home unless for some essential purposes. Everyone there has to work from home. And should not be travelling to work until and unless they cannot possibly work from home. There are also further restrictions for meeting people outside. You can only meeting people outside. You can only meet one person from one household outside although children aged 12 and underare outside although children aged 12 and under are exempt from this. Schools are also closed, thats across the whole of scotland and they are going to be closed until at least the 1st of february. Wales has been in National Lockdown since december the 20th, for the last fortnight, its been a legal requirement for people here to stay at home. Unless they are going out to exercise or to shop or if they have to leave their home for work. Of course, that means nonessential shops have been closed, bars and restau ra nts shops have been closed, bars and restaurants have all been closed, but the question is when will they open but the question is when will they o e but the question is when will they open again . There is a review at the end of this week with the Welsh Government has already warned there is very little headroom and many foresee the welsh lockdown staying in place until the end of january. 0ne change that has happened within the last 2a hours, this extension of school closures, no face to face learning in wales until at least january the 18th. Many of the teaching profession is wonder whether that would be enough given that england and scotland will have their schools closed for far longer. Teaching unions say its not simply enough to make sure the risk assessments can happen, the Education Minister told the bbc today keeping children at home has grave consequences. She is keen if it is possible to reopen schools, they will examine the evidence when they will examine the evidence when the time comes. The real pressure in wales is in the hospitals, a Record Number of covid patients, while the case numbers are coming down, they have fed through into the nhs which is under extreme pressure at the moment. Northern ireland is said to be locked down more tightly. Ministers in the devolved government here at stormont will meet in the next hour or so to finalise exactly what is going to happen. Already, here, since boxing day, nonessential shops have been shot, so have liver damage leisure facilities, hospitality businesses. The biggest decision politicians have to make todayis decision politicians have to make today is to do with education. In this, the first week of term, peoples and all age groups were already being taught online and ministers have already indicated that they are going to extend that period of Remote Learning. Its not officially announced how long for but its understood this afternoon the Stormont Executive will rubber stampa the Stormont Executive will rubber stamp a proposal to keep schools closed until after burberry half term. Now, theres already been significant news in the last few minutes, in fact, thousands of families in Northern Ireland, education slightly different here, most peoples in the final year Primary School said a series of tests which determines entry grammar schools. The first of those tests was supposed to take place this saturday but those exams have been called off. Among the other matters that the ministers will be discussing whenever they sit around that virtual executive table at 2 pm will be potential travel restrictions, for example, a limit on how far you are allowed to leave your home to exercise and also, how to make that stay at home message legally enforceable. To all of our correspondence, thank you. Iain watson is at westminster for us. The Prime Minister holding a News Conference later this afternoon but already there is help your business . Thats right, help announced by the chancellor, an extra £9,000, one of grant to the businesses most affected but i think even though he acted swiftly on that front, theres lots of questions asked at westminster about the pace and quality of Decision Making at the very heart of government. As we know, the Prime Minister said on sunday schools in england, most of england would remain open, by monday, the schools being closed and there is questions over other areas to which i think will come up at the press co nfe re nce to which i think will come up at the press conference tonight. For example over which exams will take place in england and in what form. Questions over whether a vaccine supply will badge the Prime Minister s ambitions and again, when it comes to rishi sunak, the chancellor seemed to suggest today any decisions on extending furlough or increasing sick pay would have to wait until the budget in march. What the government says is the alert level was only moved up to its highest rung by the chief medical 0fficers yesterday, in the face of new information, they acted swiftly but what the critics say is that since the new variant and the danger it posed became apparent in mid december, some of the new restrictions, these actions, were all but inevitable. And really, businesses, pupils, parents, should have and could have been given more time to prepare. Iain watson, thank you. All schools in england are switching to Remote Learning, with this summers gcses and a levels cancelled. And there are concerns that those from poorer backgrounds without access to laptops and broadband will fall further behind. The education secretary Gavin Williamson will make a statement in the house of commons tomorrow. Sean dilley reports. Its a decision the government strongly resisted, but while schools and colleges in england are now closed to most students, ministers say they expect education to continue remotely. We wanted to keep schools open as much as possible, but the message from the chief medical 0fficers yesterday was clear, and therefore with a heavy heart but with clear evidence we had to act. There are particular challenges for children in the most disadvantaged circumstances who find it more difficult sometimes to secure the Remote Learning that inevitably all children will have to have at the moment. Making sure that Remote Learning technology is available is something the government says it is working hard to achieve, but some parents are angry. Last time we made it work by splitting the days in two. One of us worked from six in the morning until one or two in the afternoon, and the other one then took over, and vice versa. There is nothing easy about working and home schooling. In fact, it is nearly impossible. I think to call it an inconvenience is insulting to the millions of parents who are going to have to rearrange their lives to try and make this work. Whats different this time round is that early years education nurseries and childcare centres are expected to remain open. The government says younger children are less likely to spread the virus. But nurseries are calling for more help to keep their staff safe. What the government must do immediately is to reassure parents and nursery staff in terms of their safety under these conditions but, most importantly, give them Additional Support by prioritising them for vaccinations. Thats the only way the key workers and those parents are going to be supported moving forward. Meanwhile, non vocational exams such as gcses and a levels have been scrapped. The governments in talks with the exam regulator 0fqual, but as yet no details exist as to what might replace them. Vocational exams such as btecs are going ahead as planned, despite calls for them to be cancelled too. Higher education is also impacted. Most University Students are being asked not to return if possible and to prepare to start the term online until at least the middle of february. Those studying hands on courses, such as medicine and veterinary science, can return following two covid tests or a ten day period of isolation. The decision to close schools and colleges marks a major departure from the governments previous position, but they say the latest evidence is clear. Schools must be closed to protect us all. Sean dilley, bbc news. With another lockdown being the very last thing businesses need right now, the chancellor has stepped in to try and stave off a fresh wave of closures and redundancies. Andy verity reports. For businesses forced once again by anti virus measures to shut, being in a cash flow crisis with too little money coming in to pay suppliers, landlords and creditors is a painful new normal. The bank of englands calculated this Financial Year firms have £180 billion less money flowing in than they need to pay bills. And that was before the new lockdown which will hit even harder. Weve announced £4. 6 billion of additional help. For the businesses in the most affected sectors who were asked to close they will receive up to £9,000 in a one off cash grant. It is important to remember that comes on top of the existing monthly gra nts comes on top of the existing monthly grants of £3000 that those businesses receive and the extension of furlough, all the way through to april stop we remain committed to protecting jobs and supporting businesses. Firms like this manchester gin distillery and bar are likely to get the grants and welcome any support they can get but after the christmas they have had, they are by no means sure it will be enough to get them through months more in lockdown. We were planning in december to try and reopen in early february. Those plans are at the window, all the money be spent on staff, you cannotjust reopen a business, you cannot open the door is the next day, it takes three or four weeks of proper planning and retraining staff. Groups representing Smaller Companies like this have already protested that the support measures do not go far enough to match the scale of the economic damage being done by renewed lockdown. They want a much bigger plan to support firms throughout 2021. What we have is the period of drip feed support to businesses rather than some consistency until the point of reopening and until we see that bounce back, i think that will hurt more businesses than it will help. 4. 6 billion times in normal times is a substantial sum but the government has already spent more than £280 billion tackling coronavirus. Businesses hit by the new lockdown will apply all the pressure they can depress government for more. Andy verity, bbc news. The government is expected to announce further restrictions on International Travel later. Michael gove said measures were being discussed to make sure that ports and airports were as safe as possible. Its believed that travellers might be required to have a negative test result before coming to the uk. The time is 13 16. Our top story this lunchtime with the whole of the uk facing lockdown, a financial lifeline for business as the chancellor offers new grants of up to £9000 per business to help them cope. The Prime Minister has acted decisively in the face of new information. We have had now to grapple with a new variant of the virus and thats caused an uptick in cases and hospitalisations and deaths as the Prime Minister had set out, and its right that we acted. Coming up on bbc news, Manchester United manager 0le Gunnar Solskjaer says they will work hard to meet covid restrictions to ensure fans have football to watch during lockdown. Its ahead of their efl semifinal against rivals manchester city. With more patients in uk hospitals with coronavirus than there were during the first wave last spring, theres huge pressure on the nhs. As the government hopes to vaccinate 13 Million People by mid february, medical staff are facing a daunting task. And they want to be protected too more than 800 consultants, doctors and nurses have called for hospital staff to be given better personal protective equipment. 0ur Health Correspondent jim reed reports. Scientists say this is now a race between the danger of the virus and the hope of the vaccine. In parts of the hope of the vaccine. In parts of the country, hospitals are under extreme pressure. At st georges in southland and they had seen a sharp rise in numbers ne