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| Covid: PM considering new restrictions amid second coronavirus wave | Covid: PM considering new restrictions amid second coronavirus wave |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson is spending the weekend considering whether to tighten Covid-19 measures in England, after saying the UK was "now seeing a second wave". | Boris Johnson is spending the weekend considering whether to tighten Covid-19 measures in England, after saying the UK was "now seeing a second wave". |
| The government is understood to be looking at a ban on households mixing, and reducing opening hours for pubs. | The government is understood to be looking at a ban on households mixing, and reducing opening hours for pubs. |
| At least 13.5 million people, roughly one in five of the UK population, are already facing local restrictions. | At least 13.5 million people, roughly one in five of the UK population, are already facing local restrictions. |
| It came as the PM announced new fines for those avoiding self-isolation. | |
| Former government adviser Prof Neil Ferguson said new measures were needed "sooner rather than later". | Former government adviser Prof Neil Ferguson said new measures were needed "sooner rather than later". |
| The scientist, whose advice was crucial to the decision to go into lockdown in March, said: "If we leave it another two to four weeks, we will be back at [infection] levels we were seeing more like mid-March. | The scientist, whose advice was crucial to the decision to go into lockdown in March, said: "If we leave it another two to four weeks, we will be back at [infection] levels we were seeing more like mid-March. |
| "That's clearly going to cause deaths because people will be hospitalised," he told the BBC. | "That's clearly going to cause deaths because people will be hospitalised," he told the BBC. |
| Mr Johnson only has direct power over restrictions in England. The devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own rules. | Mr Johnson only has direct power over restrictions in England. The devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own rules. |
| Widespread growth of the virus has been recorded across the country, with cases doubling every seven to eight days. | Widespread growth of the virus has been recorded across the country, with cases doubling every seven to eight days. |
| There were a further 4,422 confirmed UK cases on Saturday and 27 deaths. Friday was the first time the daily total of positive tests had exceeded 4,000 since 8 May. | There were a further 4,422 confirmed UK cases on Saturday and 27 deaths. Friday was the first time the daily total of positive tests had exceeded 4,000 since 8 May. |
| A further 350 cases were reported on Saturday in Scotland, the highest daily increase since May, 212 new cases in Wales, and 222 in Northern Ireland. | A further 350 cases were reported on Saturday in Scotland, the highest daily increase since May, 212 new cases in Wales, and 222 in Northern Ireland. |
| In Bolton, one returning holidaymaker, who did not self-isolate and instead went on a pub crawl, is being partly blamed for the town's spike in cases. | In Bolton, one returning holidaymaker, who did not self-isolate and instead went on a pub crawl, is being partly blamed for the town's spike in cases. |
| Meanwhile, governments across Europe have announced new restrictions to tackle the surge in infections. | Meanwhile, governments across Europe have announced new restrictions to tackle the surge in infections. |
| 'Circuit break' | 'Circuit break' |
| Speaking on Friday, Mr Johnson said he did not "want to go into bigger lockdown measures" but that tighter social distancing rules might be necessary. | Speaking on Friday, Mr Johnson said he did not "want to go into bigger lockdown measures" but that tighter social distancing rules might be necessary. |
| He added: "Clearly when you look at what is happening, you have got to wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in on Monday." | He added: "Clearly when you look at what is happening, you have got to wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in on Monday." |
| The government is understood to be considering a short period of tighter rules across England - "a circuit break" - which could involve closing hospitality venues. | The government is understood to be considering a short period of tighter rules across England - "a circuit break" - which could involve closing hospitality venues. |
| However, schools and workplaces would stay open. | However, schools and workplaces would stay open. |
| No 10 is also looking at limiting the opening hours of pubs and restaurants across the country, as has already happened in many areas of north-east England, where pubs had to close at 22:00 BST on Friday. | No 10 is also looking at limiting the opening hours of pubs and restaurants across the country, as has already happened in many areas of north-east England, where pubs had to close at 22:00 BST on Friday. |
| Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called for the government to hold an emergency Cobra meeting, look at the science and improve its communication so "people can do the right thing". | Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called for the government to hold an emergency Cobra meeting, look at the science and improve its communication so "people can do the right thing". |
| "If the government are able to do that, we will back them," she told the BBC. | "If the government are able to do that, we will back them," she told the BBC. |
| She also said it had been "shocking" to see how "monumentally" the government's test and trace system had failed. | She also said it had been "shocking" to see how "monumentally" the government's test and trace system had failed. |
| Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford are also calling for a Cobra meeting. | Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford are also calling for a Cobra meeting. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the next few days would be "critical" to avoid another full-scale lockdown in Scotland. | Ms Sturgeon said the next few days would be "critical" to avoid another full-scale lockdown in Scotland. |
| London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was extremely concerned by evidence of the accelerating speed with which coronavirus was spreading in the capital. | London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was extremely concerned by evidence of the accelerating speed with which coronavirus was spreading in the capital. |
| "We will be considering some of the measures which have already been imposed in other parts of the UK," he said. | "We will be considering some of the measures which have already been imposed in other parts of the UK," he said. |
| "I am of the firm view that we should not wait, as happened six months ago, for this virus to again spiral out of control before taking action." | "I am of the firm view that we should not wait, as happened six months ago, for this virus to again spiral out of control before taking action." |
| In London on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said officers had made 32 arrests during an anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown protest in Trafalgar Square. | In London on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said officers had made 32 arrests during an anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown protest in Trafalgar Square. |
| The government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the R number - representing the number of people an infected person will pass the virus on to - had risen to between 1.1 and 1.4. | The government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the R number - representing the number of people an infected person will pass the virus on to - had risen to between 1.1 and 1.4. |
| Although deaths remain at a very low level, Sage said the rise in the R number "shows that we are moving to wider spread growth in transmission at a faster rate". | Although deaths remain at a very low level, Sage said the rise in the R number "shows that we are moving to wider spread growth in transmission at a faster rate". |
| The sharp rise in UK cases over the last two weeks comes amid ongoing problems with the government's test and trace programme, leading to people struggling to access tests. | The sharp rise in UK cases over the last two weeks comes amid ongoing problems with the government's test and trace programme, leading to people struggling to access tests. |
| Prof Neil Ferguson said a two-week mini lockdown could help to "reset" the virus. | Prof Neil Ferguson said a two-week mini lockdown could help to "reset" the virus. |
| "We have a perfect storm right now, of people - as they've been told to - getting back to normal, schools reopening, a surge in cases and therefore the testing system is under strain," he told the BBC. | "We have a perfect storm right now, of people - as they've been told to - getting back to normal, schools reopening, a surge in cases and therefore the testing system is under strain," he told the BBC. |
| "Unfortunately we do have to roll the relaxation of measures back a little bit and get contacts down in the population." | "Unfortunately we do have to roll the relaxation of measures back a little bit and get contacts down in the population." |
| Asked if this should mean more restrictions on going abroad, he said the bigger risk was normal everyday interactions, which needed to be "dialled back a little". | Asked if this should mean more restrictions on going abroad, he said the bigger risk was normal everyday interactions, which needed to be "dialled back a little". |
| 'UK's trajectory is not written in stone' | 'UK's trajectory is not written in stone' |
| The question is no longer where we are, but where we are heading. | The question is no longer where we are, but where we are heading. |
| Yes, the number of people infected, in hospital with Covid or dying from the disease are all at far lower levels than at the peak. | Yes, the number of people infected, in hospital with Covid or dying from the disease are all at far lower levels than at the peak. |
| Scientists will quibble about the exact definition of a "second wave", but all data points to rising numbers of infections. | Scientists will quibble about the exact definition of a "second wave", but all data points to rising numbers of infections. |
| The government's science advisers say the number is now doubling every week. | The government's science advisers say the number is now doubling every week. |
| If those trends continue then infections could go from the estimated 6,000-a-day to more than 100,000 by mid-October. | If those trends continue then infections could go from the estimated 6,000-a-day to more than 100,000 by mid-October. |
| It is that trajectory, which is not written in stone, the government is trying to change. | It is that trajectory, which is not written in stone, the government is trying to change. |
| There are questions for politicians, from whether it should do a "circuit-break" to improving Test and Trace. | There are questions for politicians, from whether it should do a "circuit-break" to improving Test and Trace. |
| But, with evidence suggesting only one in five people are following the self-isolation rules when they get sick, there are also questions for all of us. | But, with evidence suggesting only one in five people are following the self-isolation rules when they get sick, there are also questions for all of us. |
| Meanwhile, the British Medical Association (BMA) has urged the government to introduce tighter measures in England to avoid another national lockdown, including toughening up the rule of six. | Meanwhile, the British Medical Association (BMA) has urged the government to introduce tighter measures in England to avoid another national lockdown, including toughening up the rule of six. |
| It said the rule makes it possible for six households to meet indoors potentially several times in a day and it is suggesting the number of households should be reduced. | It said the rule makes it possible for six households to meet indoors potentially several times in a day and it is suggesting the number of households should be reduced. |
| New restrictions for large parts of England's North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands come into force on Tuesday. | New restrictions for large parts of England's North West, West Yorkshire and the Midlands come into force on Tuesday. |
| The latest areas to see extra measures put in place include Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), Merseyside and the Cheshire boroughs of Warrington and Halton. | The latest areas to see extra measures put in place include Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), Merseyside and the Cheshire boroughs of Warrington and Halton. |
| Additional restrictions are also being put in place in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire, and all parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. | Additional restrictions are also being put in place in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston in Leicestershire, and all parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale. |
| In total, nearly 4.7 million people will be affected by the new restrictions, which ban separate households from meeting each other at home or in private gardens. | In total, nearly 4.7 million people will be affected by the new restrictions, which ban separate households from meeting each other at home or in private gardens. |
| Do you live in one of the areas where restrictions are being reintroduced? How will you be affected? Share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Do you live in one of the areas where restrictions are being reintroduced? How will you be affected? Share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: |