Meetings have shrunk from 30 to 6 as the UK struggles with rising coronavirus rates

Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday, as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.

The strict new rules reduce the size of the groups in which people can gather from 30, with fines of up to £ 3,200 for those who break the rules.

The announcement came just hours after Health Secretary Matt Hancock denied that the government has “lost control” of the coronavirus pandemic, even though new cases have doubled.

For the second day in a row, almost 3,000 new cases of Covid-19 were registered yesterday. Just a week ago, the daily total was less than 1,300.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use a press conference on Wednesday to announce the change in the law after the number of positive daily Covid-19 cases in the UK rose to nearly 3,000.

But the delay in introducing the rule, which won’t come in until after the weekend in six days, raised fears that the virus could start spreading uncontrollably again.

The crackdown, which ministers hope will make it easier for police to disperse crowds, will be applied both indoors and outdoors, including private homes, parks, pubs and restaurants.

The change was agreed to by both the Medical Director and the Chief Scientific Advisor after a series of crisis meetings in Whitehall on Tuesday.

Meetings of more than six people will be allowed when the household or support bubble is greater than six, or when the meeting is for work or educational purposes.

Exemptions will also apply for weddings, funerals, and team sports safely organized by Covid.

Johnson is expected to say: “We have to act now to stop the spread of the virus. Therefore, we are simplifying and strengthening the rules on social contact, making them easier to understand and for the police to enforce.

“It’s absolutely critical that people now abide by these rules and remember the basics: wash your hands, cover your face, keep everyone’s space, and get tested for symptoms.”

Individuals who break the new rule will face a fine of £ 100, doubled for each new violation up to £ 3,200.

It came after it was revealed that the increase in the percentage of positive test results suggests that the increase is not simply due to more tests.

Deputy Medical Director Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said: “People have become too relaxed. This is an ongoing threat. It is no longer about disease in specific hotspots, like Leicester and the Northwest. There is a generalized and progressive geographical trend in the UK. Disease levels are now beginning to rise on a broader geographic basis.

“We have to start taking this very seriously again.”

Five districts of Greater Manchester are on “red alert”, and the region has recorded its highest daily number of cases since April.

Bolton, Oldham, Salford, Tameside and Manchester are all at the highest alert level, imposed when weekly new infections exceed 50 per 100,000 residents. Rochdale had a rate of 49.5 in the week through last Thursday.

An entire one-year-old group at a Salford high school has been forced into self-isolation three days after returning, after a positive case. And as many as 300 people who attended a charity soccer game in Sunderland were told to isolate themselves, while schools, restaurants and businesses across the north closed.

Hancock agreed that the increase, after dramatic increases in Spain and France, was “worrisome”, adding: “Nobody wants to see a second wave here.” But it confirmed that the public still had to travel up to 75 miles for testing.

The government website also claimed that it had run out of home test kits as its “test and trace” system plunged into further chaos. The Health Secretary admitted that there had been “operational problems” after a caller from Nottingham on LBC Radio said that he had been told to drive to Dundee. Mr. Hancock insisted: “The vast majority of people have access to a test at their local testing center.

“But there have been problems and we are increasing capacity.”

Deputy Labor Director Angela Rayner said: “What are people who can’t afford a car supposed to do?

“Those who work shifts and have childcare and other babysitting responsibilities? They promised us ‘beat the world’, not this mess. “

Government officials insisted that they had not run out of evidence, claiming they halted the booking portal for short periods during high demand.

Hancock said the sharp increase was worst among “rich” youth ages 17-21, raising new fears about students returning to college.

He warned: “This argument that says you don’t have to worry because they are younger people and they don’t die?

“First of all, they can get very, very sick. And secondly, it makes older people rub it off. ”Education Secretary Gavin Williamson insisted that back-to-school plans are on track despite several outbreaks.

But Professor Gabriel Scally, former NHS regional director of public health for the Southwest, said: “They have lost control of the virus. They are no longer small shoots that can step on. “