Coronavirus news you may have missed overnight: England plunges into second nationwide lockdown

MPs voted by 516 to 38 for the new restrictions, which are due to expire on 2 December..

England entered a second national lockdown at midnight in an attempt to curb the number of coronavirus infections.

Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops have once again been forced to close their doors and people have been ordered to stay at home for the next four weeks.

On Wednesday evening, MPs voted by 516 to 38 - a Government majority of 478 - for the new restrictions, which are due to expire on December 2.

Early, another 492 coronavirus deaths were announced, along with 25,177 new infections. The number of people in the UK to die within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test now stands at 47,742.

Here’s the coronavirus news you may have missed overnight:

Coronavirus: First arrests made over alleged Eat Out to Help Out fraud, HMRC says

The first arrests have been made over alleged fraud in two UK government support schemes designed to help businesses hit by Covid-19.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said three men have been arrested on suspicion of fraud linked to chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme.

HMRC officers arrested the men – aged 43, 48 and 37 – on Tuesday at their London addresses on suspicion of cheating the public revenue and fraud by false representation.

Government says ‘Covid-secure’ care home visits will be allowed during England lockdown

Visits to care homes will be allowed during England’s one month-long lockdown under strict Covid-secure measures, including communicating through windows and behind screens, the government has announced.

In a departure from the sweeping ban on visits during the initial wave of the pandemic, ministers said that under new guidance all care home residents should be allowed to receive visits from their family and friends.

But the Alzheimer’s Society said families of people with dementia would be “devastated” by the plans, comparing the government’s proposed meetings behind screens to prison visits.

Chief executive officer Kate Lee warned: “This attempt to protect people will kill them. Distraught families will read this news and despair.”

England to go into lockdown from midnight tonight after MPs approve new restrictions

England is to go into a four-week lockdown from midnight Wednesday, after MPs approved Boris Johnson’s plan for tougher coronavirus restrictions by an overwhelming 516 votes to 38.

The vote came after a stormy debate in which a succession of Conservative backbenchers voiced opposition to the new restrictions, which will force the closure of pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops and require people to stay home as much as possible.

A total of 34 Tory MPs rebelled – 32 voting against the government and two acting as tellers – alongside DUP MPs and an Independent. A further 18 Tory MPs did not vote, though some may have been given permission to be absent.

Coronavirus outbreak at Scottish care home kills residents

A “number” of care home residents have died because of a coronavirus outbreak in Scotland, it has been reported. Details of the victims have yet to be released.

The outbreak is being managed by NHS Forth Valley and Care UK, which owns the Caledonian Court care home in Larbert.

NHS Forth Valley released a statement saying: “All appropriate support measures have been taken and strict infection control measures are in place.”

Dr Jennifer Champion, NHS Forth Valley’s Consultant in Public Health Medicine, offered her “deepest sympathy to those who have lost loved ones in these sad circumstances”.