With his ministers locked in debate this weekend over whether to introduce a second lockdown that would devastate the economy, the Prime Minister (pictured today at Westminster Abbey) announced that he was creating a new legal duty for people to self-isolate if they test positive for the virus or are told to do so by Test and Trace staff.
Matt Hancock warned today that Britain was at a 'tipping point' in its battle against a second devastating wave of coronavirus - and
refused to rule out Londoners being told to work from home again.
The Health Secretary also warned that a second total UK lockdown was a possibility as
ministers brought in fines of up to £10,000 under strict new laws on self-isolation, amid fears rules were simply being flouted.
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.
The UK recorded 3,899 new Covid-19 cases and another 18 deaths today, slightly down on yesterday's 4,422 but still part of a large spike.
Despite dire warnings about the economic impact of another complete shutdown, the Health Secretary said it was still an option if the measures already taken were not effective.
Gesticulating enthusiastically, Mr Hancock told BBC1's
The Andrew Marr Show: 'This country faces a tipping point.
Comment: One has to wonder then, just why were doctors putting COVID-19 patients on ventilators if they were so detrimental to their health?