Boris Johnson heralded a bleak economic winter on Tuesday as he announced that sweeping new measures to control coronavirus in England could be in place for six months, with potentially worse to come.

Mr Johnson abandoned attempts to persuade Britons to return to the office, a reversal of a government policy that came in to effect only last month. He also confirmed plans to shut pubs and restaurants at 10pm and scrapped opening up sporting events to crowds from October 31.

Although Mr Johnson stopped short of more draconian measures — such as banning the visiting of other households indoors, closing the hospitality sector or introducing a two-week “circuit break” national lockdown — the new restrictions will have a profound impact on many businesses in England.