WITH a third national lockdown looming in efforts to curb the spread of the mutant Covid strain, clues about what tougher restrictions will look like come from the government's scientific advisors.

The Prime Minister has said tougher measures - surpassing Tier 4 rules which the North-East finds itself under - will be needed to tackle the more infectious strain of Covid-19 which continues its rampage of England. 

While Boris Johnson has not specified if schools will close or if there will be an imposed curfew, like in France, a report by the government's Sage advisory committee reveals some measures that could be imposed. 

Familiar messages around hygiene, social distancing and wearing masks will be reinforced, with additional rules on the latter. 

Sage calls for "a step change in rigour", meaning measures will be applied more forcefully.

With the exception of London and the South East, levels of the new variant are currently low in parts of the country but Sage says there is a high likelihood that it will spread rapidly unless stringent control measures are applied.

While Tier 4 heavily restricts free movement and mixing of households, it is not known whether a national lockdown would see the return of the once-daily exercise rule where you are only allowed one form of outdoor exercise a day. 

Sage says a further reduction contact between people "likely to be necessary", which could include changing how school and universities operate.

There could also be stricter controls on travelling around the country and internationally. While residents have long been encouraged to 'stay local', in the Republic of Ireland, for example, a person cannot venture further than 5km from their home. 

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Shielding for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions would likely be enforced, which is already the case in Tier 4 areas. 

It may also become compulsory to wear a three-layer mask, rendering many community-made fabric face coverings useless. Masks will also have to be worn in more places, including workplaces, schools and crowded outdoor spaces. 

While there is no “magic distance”, Sage advises a return to the two-metre rule instead of one as the risk of transmission "grows exponentially" when distance is reduced below two metres. 

One-way systems may also be reintroduced in the likes of supermarkets, with floor markings acting as reminders to promote distancing.

In efforts to remove confusion around symptoms of the new variant, which are no different to the original strain, the government will also "spell out explicitly" what to look for.

Covid symptoms are any, not all, of: a new, continuous cough; high temperature; loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

There will also be a drive to increase engagement with test, trace and isolate. 

Today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock hinted at a new national lockdown, saying the Government is prepared to act “rapidly” where necessary.

The Government's “Covid-O” committee is due to meet today, January 4, where it will decide on changes to the coronavirus response.

It comes after mounting pressure from the opposition and unions, with Labour yesterday calling for national action "within the next 24-hours".

44 million people are currently under Tier 4 restrictions, including in County Durham, Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Gateshead, Sunderland, Newcastle and Northumberland.