Hancock: Second lockdown if public fail to follow rules

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned Britain is at a “tipping point” as he refused to rule out a second national coronavirus lockdown if the public fails to follow social distancing rules.

With cases rising across the country, Mr Hancock said there was a danger the numbers could “shoot through the roof” unless effective action was taken to halt the spread of the virus.

His warning came as the government announced anyone in England who refuses an order to self-isolate could face a fine of up to £10,000.

The health secretary said hospital admissions were doubling “every eight days” and would be followed by an increase in the number of deaths.

“This country faces a tipping point,” he told The Andrew Marr Show.

“If everybody follows the rules – and we will be increasingly stringent on the people who are not following the rules – then we can avoid further national lockdowns.

“But we... have to be prepared to take action if that’s what’s necessary.”

Another 3,899 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK were announced yesterday, bringing the total to 394,257, while a further 18 people had died within 28 days of testing positive, bringing the UK total to 41,777.

Boris Johnson has been desperate to avoid another nationwide lockdown amid concerns about the economic damage it will inflict just as activity was beginning to pick up again.

However, as of tomorrow, around 13.5 million people across the UK will be facing some form of local restrictions.