The UK has reported 6,874 new cases of COVID-19 – a rise of 240 from Thursday.

Despite the number of new cases, the UK is still nowhere near a realistic comparison to the peak of April and May, when Imperial College researchers have suggested there were more than 100,000 new infections a day.

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It comes as the government’s advisers estimated the coronavirus ‘R number’ for the UK to be between 1.2 and 1.5.

Last week, it was between 1.1 to 1.4 (from 1.0 and 1.2), according to science advisory body SAGE.

It now believes there is “widespread growth of the epidemic across the country”, with new infections rising by between 4% and 8% every day.

Meanwhile, London appears set to be added to the national coronavirus watchlist, while four more areas in England and Wales are heading for new restrictions.

Leeds is likely to face new restrictions from midnight tonight, including a ban on households mixing, its city council leader has said.

Cardiff and Swansea will go into local lockdown from 6pm on Sunday, the Welsh government has confirmed, while the town of Llanelli will do the same at 6pm on Saturday.

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