Boris Johnson to hold news conference as lockdown considered, latest

Avrupa Times/London-The hope is that stricter measures could then be eased by Christmas.It comes as documents seen by the BBC suggest the UK is on course for a much higher death toll than during the first wave unless further restrictions are introduced.Deaths could reach more than 4,000 a day, one of the models suggests.This figure is based on no policies being brought in to slow the spread of the disease, but most of the models peak at about 2,000 a day.

The prime minister will be joined by England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty and the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance for the briefing, following a cabinet meeting to discuss the government's coronavirus response. The news conference was originally scheduled for 16:00 GMT but is now due to take place an hour later at 17:00. It is expected schools, colleges and universities would stay open under any new "stay at home" order. 

Mr Johnson has so far resisted pressure to introduce nationwide restrictions, opting instead for a three-tiered system targeting local areas in England.
Elsewhere in the UK, Wales remains under a 17-day "firebreak" lockdown until 9 November, and Scotland's new tiered system of restrictions will come into force at 06:00 on Monday.
In Northern Ireland, pubs and restaurants were closed for four weeks on 16 October with the exception of takeaways and deliveries. Schools were closed for two weeks. Infection rates are also soaring across much of Europe, prompting new forms of lockdown in Belgium, France and Germany.