Coronavirus: UK cases hit four-month high for second day in a row - Sky News

The number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK has jumped by 4,422 - the highest rise in over four months.

Saturday's figure is exactly 100 more cases than were confirmed the previous day, meaning both are the highest since 8 May.

A further 27 deaths of people with COVID-19 have also been recorded, taking the total to 41,759.

Experts caution more infections are likely to be picked up now because the number of coronavirus tests available has grown dramatically since the pandemic began.

New cases reported on 19 September in each nation:

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• England - 3,638
• Scotland - 350
• Northern Ireland - 222
• Wales - 212

Fears are growing that daily infections could within weeks hit the figures seen in March and April if the government does not take action.

Ministers are thought to be looking at a temporary two-week "circuit break" in an attempt to break the chain of transmission.

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The move could see pubs and restaurants ordered to close or face a 10pm curfew, with socialising between households banned.

Boris Johnson is facing pressure to call a meeting of the government's civil contingencies committee - better known as COBRA - which handles national matters of emergency but has not met since May.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the prime minister "can't afford to be slow", and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added the meeting is vital "to seek as much coordination and alignment as possible".

Millions of people are already living under local lockdown, with many more possibly to follow after London mayor Sadiq Khan's warning it is "increasingly likely" fresh restrictions will be needed to stop the virus spreading in the capital.

Meanwhile the testing system is still under strain, with people in hotspots complaining they cannot get a test or being told to travel hundreds of miles from their home.

It will take weeks to fix, Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted, after the head of Test and Trace claimed nobody could have predicted the big rise in demand partially triggered by schools fully reopening.

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2020-09-19 15:49:19Z
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