This will be until February 21 “at least” according to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick; the ban will be reviewed at that date.
Landlords or agents acting on their behalf will still be able to enforce possession orders if tenants are more than six months in arrears irrespective of when the arrears accrued and therefore no longer have to pre-date Covid; however, these will go to court but cannot be enforced by bailiffs.
The government has also announced a further initiative for the private rental sector.
https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2021/1/eviction-ban-extended-in-england-and-wales