with the whole of the uk facing lockdown a financial lifeline for business as the chancellor offers new grants to help them cope the government package is worth iii—billion — and will allow up to £9,000 per business the prime minister has acted decisively in the face of new information. and we have had now to grapple with a new variant of the virus and that's caused an uptick in cases and hospitalisations and deaths, as the prime minister set out, and it's right that we acted. as the prime minister warns that the weeks ahead will be the hardest yet — health correspondent sophie hutchinson will be taking your questions on what lockdown means for you. also this lunchtime... a tough lesson for students as schools close in england and exams are axed the latest lockdowns follow a surge in cases of the new variant covid — resulting in huge

pressure on the nhs. elections are taking place in the us state of georgia which will decide the course ofjoe biden‘s presidency. mood of the nation: as people are told to stay at home — we'll look at the impact the latest lockdowns are having on our mental health. and coming up on bbc news, england's 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. we'll have to stay at home, schools are closed — and even if you do venture out there's not much you can do

to cheer yourself up. few shops, no restaurants, and no pubs. and that'll be the case for weeks — wales is already in lockdown and northern ireland is expected to go the same way. england's rules come into force tomorrow — scotland's started at midnight. when will it end? well much, of course, will depend on the success of the government's 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 correspondent damian 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, it's 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 that's 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 people's 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 it's 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 mission-critical. 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, we'll 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, that's 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 it's 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, that's 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, it's 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 it's 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, people's 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. it's not

officially announced how long for but it's 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, there's already been significant news in the last few minutes, in fact, thousands of families in northern ireland, education slightly different here, most people's 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? that's 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, there's 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 summer's 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. it's 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. what's 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. that's 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 government's 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 government's 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 england's 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. we've 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. it's 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 that's caused an uptick in cases and hospitalisations and deaths as the prime minister had set out, and it's 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. it's 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, there's 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 george's in southland and they had seen a sharp rise in numbers needing oxygen support. it has been one of the worst shifts of my entire life. intense. i am looking after many moznik patients than normal.l intense. i am looking after many moznik patients than normal. a group of hospital staff has called for better personal protection, including more of a high quality masks usually only worn in intensive care. the uk is at the highest covid threat level and senior doctors say without a rejection encases the nhs is at risk of being overwhelmed in three weeks —— without a reduction

in cases. we have never had to expand critical care units the way we have into non—critical care unit areas, never had to redeploy nursing and medical staff from other areas to help in intensive care. the impact ofa to help in intensive care. the impact of a new virus variant is still being felt most heavily in the south—east of england. at king's couege south—east of england. at king's college hospital in london, some urgent cancer operations have been cancelled. but there is pressure in other parts of the country, hospital bossesin other parts of the country, hospital bosses in north cumbria they can no longer guarantee comprehensive care for their patients. vaccines are seen as the way out of this crisis. asa seen as the way out of this crisis. as a first priority that government wa nts to as a first priority that government wants to get the jab to 30 million people, everyone over 70, the most clinically vulnerable and front—line health and care workers. we have vaccinated 1 million people at the weekend, we are increasing the numbers and we hope to reach just

over 13 million in february. numbers and we hope to reach just over13 million in february. but to reach all those groups the nhs would need to administer 2 million vaccines every week. it is probably realistic from a logistics point of view and being able to turn the nhs towards this and i guess my bigger concern, towards this and i guess my bigger concern, and i really don't know, is how quickly the vaccine can be manufactured. the bbc has learned there is no enough role vaccine in there is no enough role vaccine in the country to meet demand, but the ability to get it into people's arms could be affected by a global shortage of glass vials, waits to carry out safety checks and possible limits on the number of people carrying out vaccinations. in the meantime, the message from scientists and politicians is simple. follow the rules as the nhs prepares for what is likely to be the hardest weeks of this crisis.

jim reed, bbc news. so, hopes of a happy new year didn't last long — within days of the start of 2021 millions of people are being told to stay at home. it's to ease the pressure on the nhs — but what effect are the latest restrictions having on our mental health? with limited access to friends and family — and even work colleagues — how are we coping under lockdown? duncan kennedy reports. green space or urban setting, the cloa k of green space or urban setting, the cloak of human hibernation has come to shroud us all again. this is the centre of southampton, normally heaving with people, not today. here we are, back in lockdown, what did you think? should have happened last year. i understand why they don't do expert we had to think long—term, get lockdown turn, get this out of the way, it is real. on a personal level, are you just resigned? nothing we can do, you got to abide

by the rules and hopefully it will fade away in time. this city centre park was almost deserted, just a few walkers, joggers and bloggers like this university student. what you think of going back into lockdown?” know it is the sensible thing but also tired of giving it. we also came across doctor nathalie harrison, who has seen what covid is like in her hospital and is nowjust two weeks away from giving birth to her second child. what do you think of going into lockdown again?|j totally of going into lockdown again?” totally understand why it is needed. we are grateful that hopefully parks are staying open and we can get outside for exercise once a day, especially with little one, but i think it isjust especially with little one, but i think it is just what we needed to do. but while cenation's mojo might be out of step, one man is trying left morale. joe wicks says he will

be back again as britain's favourite pe teacher while schools are closed. i made the decision because i want to be there with families with young children who need to stay active, i will do it monday, wednesday and friday at 9am just like in the first lockdown, the videos will be saved, if you miss that you can do them another time. joe is not the only one trying to keep people fit, but those like frankii newberry from york say the news has not come easily. this news has broken me a little bit, and i thinkl easily. this news has broken me a little bit, and i think i and a strong, resilient person, i pride myself on that. we have been here before, empty streets, disrupted lights, but lockdown, the sequel, is one follow—up most people say they will not enjoy, but they will endure. duncan kennedy, bbc news. we will be taking your questions on

the lockdown later, but first some other news. joe biden's ability to deliver on his election promises may hinge on events later today. the state of georgia is holding elections to choose its two senators — which will decidide who controls the upper chamber. nomia iqbal reports. the men standing withjoe biden mayjust be his most important friends right now. democrats pastor raphael warnock and investigative journalist jon 0ssoff are running for georgia's two senate seats. if they win, the president—elect‘s party will control the senate. 0ne state. 0ne state can chart the course not just for the next four years, but for the next generation. for people in georgia, this means campaigning has never stopped. the place that we demand better is at the ballot box. the energy here in georgia is something i have never seen before. yes, we can do it. yes, we can! ifjon 0ssoff wins, he will be the youngest senator,

a title that once belonged tojoe biden. he has been campaigning day and night. we are going to win on tuesday. and when we win on tuesday, we are going to enact an agenda that serves working people in this country. the pressure is on georgia's republicans too. kelly loeffler here meeting voters. we're in a battle for the country, so... fellow candidate david perdue has had to quarantine for a few days. make sure that you get your friends and family out. this is about turnout. we're going to win if we turnout. the early voter turnout in georgia has been huge, and that's because this state knows that their candidates will decide just how powerful joe biden's presidency will be. her pro—business, pro—conservative values have really trickled down to our city. as mayor, what i am telling people is go out there and vote. vote, vote, vote. and teenagers are getting organised too. with live streamed events like this. polls suggest they could give democrats an edge.

since the presidential election, more than 23,000 have turned 18 and can now vote in this senate race. i did the math in my head and it turns out i couldn't vote for the presidential election, i was short byjust a month, i got so mad at my mum, you couldn't have made me born a little bit later. even though i may not have been able to vote in the presidential election, still, in some ways i am able to vote on a presidential scale. georgia is the final battle for president trump. he still wrongly believes the election was rigged. there's no way we lost georgia. there's no way. cheering. that was a rigged election. some republicans worry he could put off voters, giving the advantage tojoe biden. nomia iqbal, bbc news, georgia. a fresh attempt is being made to make nonfatal strangulation a specific criminal offence in domestic abuse. the conservative peer and former victims‘ commissioner baroness newlove is putting forward an amendment to the domestic

abuse bill in the lords, calling for a new offence to be introduced in england and wales. an old baileyjury has been told that a man who stabbed three people to death in a park in reading last summer was ‘ruthlessly efficient‘ and believed he was performing an act of religiousjihad. the prosecution was setting out its case on the first day of a sentencing hearing for khairi saadallah, who‘s admitted murdering james furlong, joseph ritchie—bennett and david wails. saadallah, who‘s 26 and from reading, was heard to shout "allahu akhbar" — or "god is greatest" — during the attack in forbury gardens in june. the lockdown for england impacts people‘s lives in many different ways. let‘s try and answer some of the questions viewers have been sending into bbc news. 0ur health correspondent sophie hutchinson is here. i will go straight with this one from patricia williams, "how do i get told when and where i can have my vaccine?" it is a great question,

so many people are desperate to know when they will get this protection. people have been told the gp will get in touch with a date and time for when you should go to a vaccination centre, please do not contact your gp to ask when that‘ll happen because it their workload. jeremy asks, "now we have more than one vaccine with more to come, who decides which vaccine goes where and how is that the decision made?" that is part of the logistical challenge facing the nhs across the uk. pfizer vaccine at the oxford one will probably end up at all the vaccination centres, it will be about the ebb and flow of the supply, about the ebb and flow of the supply, it depends which day you go which vaccine is available. u nfortu nately which vaccine is available. unfortunately there will not be a choice but both are said to be extremely good. lydia says, "i had the first dose at the covid—19 vaccine and under clinically

vulnerable list so i get a letter to shield, should i still do so?"m you have had yourfirst shield, should i still do so?"m you have had your first vaccine dose, you do not get the protection for two to three weeks after you have had that, but at the moment anyone who was expected to shield is still expected to do so, there is no insta nt still expected to do so, there is no i nsta nt get still expected to do so, there is no instant get out ofjail card at the moment, if you like, for those who have had the vaccine. one reviewer in rotherham says, "my wife is in end—of—life care in a hospice, can i continue to visit?" for compassionate reasons, it is thought people across the uk will be allowed to visit hospitals. phil morgan in leeds, "we are in a child has a portable with my daughter and son—in—law, can but continue?" supports bubble and childcare are two reasons you can mix with another household but the only question, as

grandparents, with baby expected to shield in anyway, but that is personalfor shield in anyway, but that is personal for them. "can i go for a work —— go for a walk with friends?" in england you can meet one friend for exercise, in scotland you can meet one point to socialise, and well he cannot meet any friends and the northern ireland you can still meet up to 15 people outside. —— in wales you cannot meet any change. a meeting might change things about northern ireland. " will motor vehicle mot centres remain open?"m looks like they will remain open across the uk, yes. thank you, sophie. and the prime minister will hold a press conference in downing street this afternoon — there‘ll be live coverage on bbc one from 4.30pm. and the leader of the opposition, sir keir starmer, will respond to news of the new lockdown in england, with a statement on bbc1 at 7pm. time for a look at the weather — here‘s matt taylor.