Matt Hancock warns country at 'tipping point' as Covid cases increase
The Health Secretary and West Suffolk MP has warned Britain is at a “tipping point” as he refused to rule out a second national coronavirus lockdown if the public fails to follow social distancing rules.
With cases rising across the country, Mr Hancock said there was a danger the numbers could “shoot through the roof” unless effective action was taken to halt the spread of the virus.
His warning came as the Government announced anyone in England who refuses an order to self-isolate could face a fine of up to £10,000.
In interviews on Sunday morning, the Health Secretary said that hospital admissions for the disease were doubling “every eight days” and would be followed by an increase in the number of deaths.
"We face a tipping point as a country," he told ITV News.
"Either everyone follows the rules or we’re going to have to take more stringent actions."
He added a second national lockdown is not inevitable but "only if everyone sticks by the rules"
And Mr Hancock said he was “very worried” about the latest data suggesting Britain could be on the same path as Spain and France – where deaths and hospitalisations are increasing – without effective action.
“I am very worried about this second wave. We have seen in other countries around Europe how it can absolutely shoot through the roof,” he told Sky News' Sophy Ridge.
“When the case rate shoots up, the next thing that happens is the numbers going into hospital shoot up.
“Sadly, we have seen that rise, it is doubling every eight days or so – people going into hospital – then, with a lag, you see the number of people dying sadly rise.”