The UK government has started rolling back on its summer plans to stimulate the economy in an attempt to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 infections from overwhelming the country.

Speaking in the House of Commons, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "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. We will not listen to those who say 'let the virus rip' nor to those who urge a permanent lockdown."

So for now, the UK is avoiding a full lockdown, though many areas of the country are under a partial lockdown. And while Johnson has said he does not want to see another lockdown, it has not been ruled out.

"I must emphasize that if all our actions fail to bring the R (reproduction rate) below one, then we reserve the right to deploy greater firepower with significantly greater restrictions," Johnson warned.

The UK's alert level has been upgraded from three to four, this is the second-highest level for COVID-19 in the country. On Tuesday, the government announced that in England, where possible people should work from home.

New restrictions affecting pubs and restaurants have also been announced. This includes a 10 p.m. curfew and offering table service only. The argument is that if people are consuming alcohol their resolve to social distance is weakened.

Johnson says these restrictions may continue for another six months. The British Beer and Pubs Association warns this could force some businesses to close for good.

In case you missed it:

• Will reopening Spanish universities spark a COVID-19 surge?

• French universities reopen with new health protocols amid COVID-19 clusters

• How Europe's air pollution rose as COVID-19 lockdowns eased

Rob Claassen is the director of The Salusbury Pub and dining rooms in North-West London, and is still working out what the restrictions will mean for his business and staff.

"We have to see the affect the restrictions will have on people's demand, whether they will be less inclined to want to go out at all," Claassen says. "We might find it's not just the end of the evening that is clipped off but it could hit demand in general."

The government has also restricted wedding ceremonies and receptions to less than 15 people, delayed the re-opening of sports stadiums and banned indoor sports involving more than six people.

Last week the government announced people should not meet in groups larger than six people in England.  But so far it hasn't restricted different households from meeting.

The UK's scientific advisers say the rate of infection across the country is doubling every week.

If that trend continues without any action taken, there could be up to 50,000 new COVID-19 infections every day by mid-October, and 200 deaths per day a month later.

Large parts of the UK are already under a partial lockdown or curfew and the prime minister says hefty fines and penalties will be handed out to those who break the rules.

It's now compulsory for staff in shops, pubs and restaurants to wear a mask. The penalty for failing to do so is $260.

The Prime Minister says there will be a greater police presence on the street to enforce the rules and, if necessary, the military will be called in to assist. These are extraordinary measures for a Conservative government to introduce.

Opposition leader, Keir Starmer, says Boris Johnson is "not up to the job," and a second national lockdown would indicate the government had failed.

On Tuesday, the UK recorded almost 4,000 new cases of COVID-19 infection.