Matt Hancock says new lockdown restrictions in London can’t be ruled out in a few days

The introduction of new lockdown restrictions in London in a few days cannot be ruled out, the UK Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock said he had spoken with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, over the weekend about the necessary measures in the capital.

When asked if employees at the London office could be advised to work from home sometime next week, Hancock told Times Radio: “Well, I wouldn’t rule it out.”

Such a move would contrast with the recent message from the government, which has been urging people to return to their offices following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

‘More and more likely’

It comes as Sadiq Khan is urging ministers to extend the latest regional restrictions, which include ordering bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m., to also cover the capital.

Khan had said it is “increasingly likely” that lockdown restrictions will soon be needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The number of cases per 100,000 people over seven days is reported to have risen in London from 18.8 to around 25 earlier in the week.

City Hall sources said the city was catching up to disease hotspots in the North West and North East of England, which have been put under new controls.

One source said: “It is clear that the cases in London are only moving in one direction, we are now only a few days from the hotspots in the North West and North East. We cannot afford any further delays.

“The introduction of new measures now will help slow the spread of the virus and potentially avoid the need for a more complete lockdown as we saw in March, which could seriously damage the economy once again.”