Mr Johnson will reveal the full details of the much-anticipated approach in a statement to the House of Commons, following criticism of the UK government for not keeping MPs properly informed of changes.
The news comes after the Prime Minister’s chief strategic adviser Edward Lister wrote to northern MPs following a meeting with leaders from the North on Friday to warn them it was “very likely” the region would be hit with tougher rules.
Workers in pubs, restaurants and other businesses which are forced to close under the new restrictions will have two thirds of their wages paid by the government in a new financial scheme announced by the Chancellor earlier on Friday.
Rishi Sunak said the expansion of the Job Support Scheme would protect jobs and provide “reassurance and a safety net” for people and businesses across the UK in advance of a potentially “difficult winter”.
In the letter to northern leaders, which has been shared online, Mr Lister stated that “rising incidence” of Covid in parts of the country mean it is “very likely” that certain local areas will face “further restrictions”.
The letter added that the Prime Minister believed local leaders should “help shape the package of measures in the most concerning areas”.
The Government will discuss “difficult choices” with local leaders, the letter stated.
A further 13,864 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK were reported on Friday, and 87 more deaths were confirmed of people who died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus.
Nottingham has the highest rate in England, with 760.6 cases per 100,000 people – a huge jump from 158.3 per 100,000 in the seven days to September 29.
Knowsley has the second highest rate, which has leapt from 391.1 to 657.6 per 100,000, while Liverpool is in third place, where the rate has also increased sharply, from 419.0 to 599.9.
Separate figures suggested coronavirus cases are doubling about twice as fast in the North West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands as for the whole of England.
