Boris Johnson Hancock coronavirus
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, and Health Minister Matt Hancock. Image Credit: AP

London: British health minister Matt Hancock said on Wednesday more areas in England would be placed into the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions in a bid to curb the spread of a more transmissible variant of COVID-19.

Hancock said from Dec. 26, large regions across southern England would join London and neighbouring areas in Tier 4 with restrictions similar to that of a lockdown.