UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to address the nation on Saturday and announce new restrictions. His statement follows a cabinet meeting to discuss the rapid spread of COVID-19 in London and the Southeast of England, via a new strain of the disease.
The PM will be accompanied by chief medical officer Chris Whitty and the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
GBP/USD closed the trading week at 1.3521 and moved mostly in response to Brexit headlines. Tighter screws on economic activity in the capital could weigh on the pound.