Coronavirus UK: Biggest daily rise in cases since May as new restrictions introduced

Figures near 5,000 just 11 days after topping 3,000 for first time in months

The UK has recorded a further 4,926 coronavirus infections - the largest daily rise since 7 May.

The Department for Health and Social Care figures showed a level of new infections overtaking that often seen during the peak of the pandemic in the UK - albeit at which point testing capacity was significantly smaller.

It is the fourth time in the past five days that new infections have surpassed 4,000, having first topped 3,000 just 11 days ago.

It came as Boris Johnson unveiled new restrictions aimed at curbing the virus, including nationwide 10pm curfews for pubs and restaurants, reductions on wedding reception guests and harsher limits on indoor sport.

The prime minister warned the UK was at a “perilous turning point” in its fight against the virus, and suggested the new rules would likely last six months.

It followed a warning from the country’s top advisors Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance that the UK could see 49,000 daily infections by mid-October and 200 daily deaths a month later unless extra measures were taken.

Tuesday’s rise in infections brings the total identified in the UK since start of the pandemic to above 400,000.

A further 37 people died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus, bringing the official death toll to 41,825.

But separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 57,500 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

Daily hospital admissions have more than doubled in the last fortnight, surpassing 260 on Sunday.

Meanwhile, infection rates have fallen slightly in some high-risk areas but have more than doubled in others.

Tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community in the week to 19 September showed the rate in Bolton, which is the highest in England, dropped from 219 to 209 per 100,000 people.

Hyndburn has the second highest rate, up from 120.9 to 180.2 with 146 new cases. Preston is in third place, where the rate has risen from 124.4 to 168.4, with 241 new cases.

Additional reporting by PA