The UK is at a 'critical point' in the coronavirus pandemic, Professor Chris Whitty will warn in an address to the nation this morning as the Prime Minister lays out new measures to control a second devastating wave of coronavirus.
In a televised briefing, the chief medical officer for England will say the country faces a 'very challenging winter', with the current trend heading in 'the wrong direction'.
The stark warning is set to come after Boris Johnson yesterday held talks with Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance as he draws up a virus battle plan that could see the country face another six months of lockdown restrictions.
The new measures come after the Mail revealed that pubs that break the rules will be shut down on the spot in a planned new crackdown.
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Professor Chris Whitty (left) will say the country faces a 'very challenging winter' during his TV announcement as Boris Johnson (right) draws up a virus battle plan for the next six months
During his address, Professor Whitty, who will appear alongside the Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, will explain how the virus is spreading in the UK and the potential scenarios that could unfold as winter approaches.
They will draw on data from other countries such as Spain and France, which are experiencing a second surge, to underline how their experience could be replicated in the UK.
Professor Whitty is expected to say: 'The trend in the UK is heading in the wrong direction and we are at a critical point in the pandemic.
'We are looking at the data to see how to manage the spread of the virus ahead of a very challenging winter period.'
The warning comes as it was revealed that bars and restaurants that allow big groups to gather or fail to collect customers' details will be served with orders forcing them to close immediately.
Local authorities and the police will be encouraged to perform spot checks to ensure venues are meeting the requirements.
Downing Street last night warned the country is 'in the last chance saloon' with the prospect of more restrictive national measures, such as curfews, being imposed within days if people do not start following the rules.
Possible measures include forcing bars and restaurants to shut at 10pm each night, as has already happened in places such as Bolton and Newcastle. There may also be a ban on socialising with people from other households.
The Government is preparing to launch a major offensive to enforce the rules that are currently in place in a bid to minimise the need for further restrictions.
Mr Hancock yesterday warned: 'We will come down hard on people who do the wrong thing.'
Senior Government officials have become concerned at scenes of drinkers crammed into bars or standing on the street outside in large groups.
They also fear that many places are not collecting the details of customers needed by the NHS Test and Trace service to contact the necessary people if outbreaks are identified in a venue.
On Sunday, another 3,899 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK were announced, while a further 18 people died within 28 days of testing positive, bringing the UK total to 41,777.
The latest figures came after the Government announced that anyone in England refusing to obey an order to self-isolate could face a fine of up to £10,000.
Following the rising figures, Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out a second national lockdown in England if people failed to follow the social distancing rules.
Mr Hancock said that with hospital admissions for the disease doubling 'every eight days or so', further action was needed to prevent more deaths.
'This country faces a tipping point,' he told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show.
'If everybody follows the rules - and we will be increasingly stringent on the people who are not following the rules - then we can avoid further national lockdowns.
'But we of course have to be prepared to take action if that's what's necessary.'
Mr Johnson has been desperate to avoid another nationwide lockdown amid concerns about the economic damage it will inflict just as activity was beginning to pick up again.
However, as of Tuesday, about 13.5 million people across the UK will be facing some form of local restrictions as the authorities grapple with the disease.
A senior Government figure told The Times that while no final decision had been made by the Prime Minister, the Government was looking over the next six months.
They said: 'It’s not as simple as saying Covid is up and it’s a simple binary choice [over lockdown]. It is a very, very complicated picture that we need to look at over the next six months and that is going to be the tough part.'
Mr Hancock said he was 'very worried' about the latest data which suggested Britain could be on the same path as Spain and France - where deaths and hospitalisations are increasing - without effective action.
