British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will intervene with further localised restrictions to fight a rapidly growing second wave of the coronavirus pandemic after more of northwest England was put on the highest Covid-19 alert level.
Tougher restrictions were announced for Lancashire, but Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has resisted a move to put his area in the highest tier unless the government increases its financial support through the winter.
"If agreement cannot be reached, I will need to intervene in order to protect Manchester's hospitals and save the lives of Manchester's residents," Mr Johnson said at a news conference.
As a second wave of the pandemic builds, his government has pursued a tiered approach to shut down local regions with rising numbers of cases, in the hope it can allow the least-affected areas to remain open to protect the economy.
From tomorrow, Lancashire will face the toughest measures under the system to curb the spread of the virus, including the closure of pubs.
Cases have surged in the region that is home to towns such as Burnley, Blackburn, Blackpool and Preston, forcing Lancashire into the very high alert level of Tier 3, along with nearby Liverpool and Merseyside.
Mr Johnson reiterated his belief today in a localised approach rather than a new temporary national lockdown.
"Some have argued that we should introduce a national lockdown instead of targeted local action. I disagree," he said.
"While I can't rule anything out, if at all possible, I want to avoid another national lockdown."
Experts warn there is 'no clear evidence' of change to pandemic
There is "no clear evidence" the trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic has altered in the past month, UK government scientists have warned, as a raft of new data shows a rise in cases.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), which advises the government, said the reproduction number, or R value, of coronavirus transmission for the whole of the UK stands between 1.3 and 1.5.
Last week, the group said the R number was between 1.2 and 1.5.
But in a statement, SAGE said there was continued exponential growth, transmission was "not slowing", and added: "There is no clear evidence that the epidemic's trajectory has changed in the past month."
Meanwhile, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed there were an estimated average of 27,900 new cases per day of Covid-19 between 2 and 8 October.
This is up 62% from an estimated 17,200 new cases per day for the period 25 September to 1 October.
The ONS said cases were rising "rapidly", with an estimated 336,500 people having coronavirus in the week to 8 October, equating to around one in 160 people.
The figures represent a jump from 224,400 people in the previous week of 25 September to 1 October.
Ruth Studley, head of analysis for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: "Our latest data shows infections continue to rise, with more than a third of a million people estimated to be infected - the highest levels we have seen since the survey began in May.
"Like previous weeks, infections continue to be highest in the north of England and among older teenagers and young adults."
Separate figures from the Covid Symptom Study UK Infection Survey suggest there were 27,762 daily new symptomatic cases of Covid-19 in the UK on average over the two weeks to 11 October, up from 21,903 the week before.
Researchers behind the study used regional data to suggest which places could face Tier 3 restrictions next.
Burnley and Manchester come top of the list followed by Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Bury, Hartlepool, Salford, Sheffield and Leeds.
Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London, who leads the study, said: "The data is no longer showing the exponential increases that we were seeing a couple of weeks ago, but is clearly showing new cases continuing to rise.
"The north west still has the most cases and the fastest acceleration of cases with doubling times of around 10 days. Slowing this rapid rise is a priority."
Additional reporting PA
