"Plymouth will pull through this"
Moor View MP Johnny Mercer speaks out as England enters another national lockdown
England is back in lockdown - the toughest one since March.
Schools have been ordered to close, meaning a return to remote learning for most children and summer exams will not go ahead as planned.
Announcing it last night, Boris Johnson repeated one of the early messages: "stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives".
Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer has been responding to the news:
"It's disappointing to go into yet another lockdown, but I've seen the data, I've spoken to national and local leaders, there really is nothing else we can do at this stage.
"We've got this new strain and we are actually now taking patients in at Derriford from other parts of the country.
"We have to change our behaviour, we have to change course, but Plymouth will pull through this."
The Prime Minister said he hopes the rollout of vaccines will allow England's restrictions to ease in mid-February.
But he warned the number of Covid-19 patients in English hospitals is 40% higher than the first peak.
The UK's coronavirus alert level has also been raised from 4 to 5 - the highest level - for the first time.
Before England's lockdown announcement, the UK's four chief medical officers warned the NHS could be overwhelmed within 21 days "in several areas" without further action.
Mr Mercer says it is "crucial" that we stick to the guidance and that we must all play our part:
"I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make sure we get every single penny of economic support that we can into this city, that students and young people have a vision of what their education is going to look like.
"We will be okay, we'll get through this, we need to do everything we can to get this vaccination rolled out and that's where my effort is going to be focused."