By Ben Kerrigan-
The British government is about to limit the maximum number of people who can legally gather indoors in England is set to be cut as the government seeks to combat a spike in coronavirus cases.
A government source said the figure will be reduced from 30, but the new number is still decided.
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It follows a sharp uptick in COVID-19 infections recently, with 2,948 reported on Monday – the highest number since 22 May.
At the moment fines can be imposed for illegal gatherings of more than 30 people, and £100 fines can be issued for breaches, rising to £3,200 for subsequent offenders.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said on Monday that the public had “relaxed too much” over the summer and described the rising number of cases were of “great concern”.
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The deputy chief medical officer for England issued the warning as Caerphilly in south Wales prepared to be placed under local lockdown and stricter measures were extended in Scotland.
The new rules are in response to a further 2,948 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Monday, following the 2,988 reported on Sunday, which was the largest daily figure since May. However, they fail to take into account the fact there have been increased testing in the Uk since August.
However, social distancing has not been observed to the desirable level since the lockdown was eased in August.
In an interview with journalists, Prof Van-Tam said: “This is a big change. It’s now consistent over two days and it’s of great concern at this point.
“We’ve been able to relax a bit over the summer, the disease levels have been really quite low in the UK through the summer but these latest figures really show us that much as people might like to say ‘oh well it’s gone away’ – this hasn’t gone away.
“And if we’re not careful, if we don’t take this incredibly seriously from this point in we’re going to have a bumpy ride over the next few months.”
He said that the rise is “much more marked” in the 17-21 age group, but noted there is a “more general and creeping geographic trend” across the UK.
“People have relaxed too much,” Prof Van-Tam said. “Now is the time for us to re-engage and realise that this is a continuing threat to us.”
He urged politicians and public health officials to think how to manage the crisis not in the short term but through “the next six months and how we get through this until the spring”.
The professor added that it was “clear” that the level of compliance with restrictions “is very variable indeed”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock welcomed the “important advice” having earlier described the recent increase in cases as “concerning” as he tried to remind young people of the dangers of the situation.
“Don’t kill your gran by catching coronavirus and then passing it on,” he told told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat.
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