UK records 2,621 new coronavirus cases and a further nine deaths

Another 2,621 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the past 24 hours across the UK.

A further nine people have died with the virus, bringing the death toll to 41,637, The Department of Health and Social Care said on Monday.

It follows a surge of 3,300 new infections on Sunday and 3,500 cases on Saturday – some of the country’s highest daily rises since May.

The majority of doctors in England fear a second peak of Covid-19 this winter, a new survey revealed on Monday.

The poll from the British Medical Association suggests 86% of more than 8,000 doctors and medical students believe a second peak is likely or very likely in the next six months.

BMA council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul has warned: ‘With daily cases still alarmingly high, and winter just around the corner, we are at a critical crossroads in the fight against this deadly virus.

‘All efforts must be made to avoid a repeat of the horror and tragedy we all experienced earlier this year.’

Former chief scientific adviser Sir Mark Walport has also cautioned that the UK is ‘on the edge of losing control’ of the pandemic, as the R Number rises above 1 for the first time since early May.

He has claimed the only way the country can avoid the second wave that numerous countries across Europe appear to be experiencing is for people to immediately limit who they come into contact with.

Top scientist Sir Walport told the BBC: ‘I think one would have to say that we’re on the edge of losing control. You’ve only got to look across the Channel to see what’s happening in France, what’s happening in Spain.

‘The French on Thursday had 9,800 new infections and one can see their hospital admissions and indeed their intensive care admissions are going up.’

People living in Britain were today advised by the policing minister to call the police on their neighbours if they see them breaking the new ‘rule of six’ law.

Kit Malthouse said the non-emergency 101 police phone number can be used to report any social gatherings of more than six people.

Mr Malthouse told the BBC: ‘We are in discussions about what reporting mechanisms there might be but there is obviously the non-emergency number that people can ring and report issues they wish to.

‘Certainly during the initial stage of lockdown, we did see a surge in those reports coming through to the police. ‘If people are concerned, if they do think there is contravention then that option is open to them.’

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