Prime Minister Boris John has suggested that the recent surge in coronavirus cases in the UK is the result of “provoking public discipline” during the summer.
He said adherence to virus restrictions was “high at first” but then “probably … … everyone got a little bit of self-satisfaction and ambiguity”.
There has been a sharp rise in cases across the UK since the end of August.
After the summer began easing sanctions, the government had to tighten its measures.
Recent figures from the UK show that there have been 6,968 cases and another 66 deaths.
R number – a measure of how many other people are infected with the virus – has risen to between 1.3 and 1.6.
However, there is more evidence that new coronavirus infections may progress more slowly than in previous weeks.
In total, at least 16.8 million people in the UK – one in four people – face additional coronavirus action at the top of national norms, including two-thirds in the north of England.
Speaking to BBC reporters across the country, the prime minister denied that the virus had gone out of control in the area due to a lack of testing in north-east England.
“That’s not the reality … the nation came together in March and April, what happened during the summer was a form of disciplining the people and drawing attention to those rules.”
The government has faced harsh criticism for its mixed messages since it began easing the national lockdown in late spring.
After a steady decline in confirmed cases after the first peak in April, cases began to rise again in July, with the growth rate increasing rapidly since the end of August.
In a separate interview with BBC Scotland, Mr Johnson said: “You saw what happened in Scotland across the country in March and April, we worked together to control the virus.
“Hey, probably what has happened since then is that everyone got a little bit of self-satisfaction and a little bit of voice about the transmission.
“The rules on social distance were probably not followed the way they could, or were enforced the way they could, and that’s why we took steps in Scotland and elsewhere to bring it down again.”
Among the national measures introduced around the UK are new rules, such as limiting gatherings to a maximum of six people and opening hours for hospitality venues.
“I’m afraid some of the muscles have lost their memory and people are not following the guidelines the way they should,” Mr Johnson added.
Asked about the Middlesbrough mayor’s remarks, who said there had been a “terrible lack of communication with the local government” about the local lockdown, Mr Johnson disagreed: “We work very closely with local governments across the country.”
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Boris Johnson hired a personal trainer after he was hospitalized with coronavirus
The prime minister also described concerns that he was not “old Boris” after coronavirus was contracted as “sister disinformation” in March.
He said it felt “significantly better” and thanks to “recent efforts”, it was about two stones lighter than a year ago.
Mr Johnson has previously revealed that he hired a personal trainer to lose weight after admitting he was “too fat” when he caught the Covid-19.
Asked about the future of MP Margaret Ferrier, who traveled from Glasgow to London with Covid-19 symptoms, he also declined to comment, then returned home after a positive test.
He said, “I’m going to leave it to the SNP and their whips a lot – it’s up to them to decide but it’s very important that everyone follows the rules and guidelines.”
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into MS Ferrier, who has been suspended by the SNP and is calling for the MP to resign.
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