Coronavirus: UK cases rise to 673,622, with 138 more deaths

Total death toll rises to 43,293

The total number of coronavirus cases in the UK has risen by 18,980 to 673,622, according to government figures.

A further 138 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

It brings the total to 43,293.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 58,500 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

It comes as half the population of England prepare to move under stricter lockdown measure from Saturday.

London will move into tier 2 from Saturday, with people from separate houses being banned from mixing indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

Essex, Elmbridge, Barrow-in-Furness, York, North East Derbyshire, Erewash and Chesterfield will also move into the second tier of measures.

However, a bitter political row between the government and local politicians has prevented Greater Manchester from being moved into tier 3.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, claimed England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam has told him the only way to bring the virus back under control is a national lockdown.

Mr Burnham is strenuously resisting attempts to place Greater Manchester in tier 3, saying what is proposed goes far beyond just closing pubs and bars and is not guaranteed to bring the outbreak under control.

"The deputy chief medical officer also told us last night that the only certain thing to work is a national lockdown," Mr Burnham said.

"But the government told us this morning it is unwilling to do that because of the damage it will do to the national economy.

"And yet that is what they want to impose on the North West."