Coronavirus: UK government plans new measures to contain spread.

New England-wide measures which could see hospitality businesses shut are being considered by the UK government to slow a surge of coronavirus cases.

A short period of tighter restrictions – lasting a few weeks – could be announced in the next week, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said.

Schools and most workplaces would be kept open during those weeks.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told the BBC the government is “prepared to do what it takes” against Covid-19.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, the health secretary said there had been an “acceleration” in the number of coronavirus cases in the last couple of weeks, and the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus was doubling about every eight days.

He stressed it was “critical” that people follow social distancing guidelines and local lockdown rules – where they apply.

“If we do all these things, we can avoid having to take serious further measures,” he told the programme.

At a meeting on Wednesday night, the government’s chief scientific adviser and medical officer predicted another serious outbreak of the disease.

They forecast that there would be a significant number of deaths by the end of October if there were no further interventions.

The possible measures being discussed – described by the government as a “circuit break” – include asking some hospitality businesses to close, or limiting the opening hours of some pubs and restaurants nationwide.

No final decisions have yet been reached on the next course of action.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth has said it is “not surprising national restrictions are back on the table” as the UK’s testing system is “collapsing”.

The virus is now understood to be doubling every seven to eight days, with more than 3,300 new cases reported on Thursday.

And having been contained to single figures for much of the past six weeks, the daily number of deaths of people within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test has risen above 20 for the past three days.

In France and Spain, a rapid surge has seen both countries record more than 10,000 new positive cases a day, more than 20 times higher the level in June.