To those shielding, Mr Johnson added: “Following advice from our senior clinicians, our guidance continues to be that you do not need to shield, except in local lockdown areas, and we will keep this under constant review.”

Boris Johnson said that the restrictions announced could remain in place for “perhaps six months”.

He told the Commons: “I fervently want to avoid taking this step, as do the devolved administrations but we will only be able to avoid it if our new measures work and our behaviour changes.

“We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments, new forms of mass-testing but unless we palpably make progress we should assume that the restrictions that I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.

“For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives and I must tell the House and the country that our fight against it will continue.”

Mr Johnson said: “We will also have to extend the rule of six to all adult indoor team sports. Finally we have to acknowledge that the spread of the virus is now affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibitions and large sporting events, so we will not be able to do this from 1st October and I recognise the implications for our sports clubs which are the life and soul of our communities.”

He added: “These rules will be enforced by tighter penalties… the penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence.”

Boris Johnson said people who can work from home should do so.

He told MPs: “First, we are once again asking office workers who can work from home to do so. In key public services and in all professions where home working is not possible, such as construction or retail, people should continue to attend their workplaces.”

He added: “Second, from Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must operate a table service only, except for takeaways. Together with all hospitality venues, they must close at 10pm.

“And to help the police enforce this rule that means, alas, closing not just calling for last orders, because simplicity is paramount.”

Boris Johnson said people working in retail, those travelling in taxis, and staff and customers in indoor hospitality except while seated at a table to eat or drink would have to wear face coverings.

From Monday no more than 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, in a tightening of the “rule of six”.

The limit was previously 30.

Boris Johnson has warned daily deaths from Covid-19 will increase unless action is taken.

The Prime Minister told MPs: “In the last fortnight daily hospital admissions in England have more than doubled.

“Tens of thousands of daily infections in October would, as night follows day, lead to hundreds of daily deaths in November and those numbers would continue to grow unless we act.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told MPs that the UK has reached a “perilous turning point” in its fight against coronavirus, as he urged office workers who can work from home to do so.

Boris Johnson won the ‘full support’ of his Cabinet for the new restrictions he is set to announce to “protect lives and livelihoods” during a resurgence in the spread of coronavirus, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: 'The PM chaired Cabinet where it gave its full support to the package of measures which he will be shortly announcing in the House of Commons.

'The PM said that the additional steps which will be taken in the coming days were intended to fight the virus while also protecting education and protecting the economy.

‘And the PM said the Government’s policy was to protect lives and livelihoods.’

Boris Johnson is set to give a statement to the Commons shortly.

We’ll have live updates for you when it begins.