ANOTHER 3,330 more people have tested positive for coronavirus overnight in the highest Sunday rise since May.

Five more people also lost their lives to Covid-19 as the UK's grim tally rises to 41,628.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

September has seen rising rates of the virus, with Friday's new cases – 3,539 – the highest recorded on any day since May 17.

It's the third day in a row that cases have risen above 3,000.

Five more people lost their lives in hospitals in England.

No new deaths were recorded in Scotland or Wales.

However, in Scotland, daily coronavirus cases have also hit a four-month high, with total of 244 people testing positive.

Figures for Northern Ireland aren't yet available.

It comes as:

• A top academic says he fears the spike in cases is down to the success of Rishi Sunak's Eat Out to Help Out scheme
• Michael Gove has sparked fury after claiming kids will be part of the 'rule of six'
• A coronavirus vaccine won't be ready in time for a possible second wave, it's claimed
• Thousands of Brits are taking tests that will never be analysed as labs battle with a backlog of 185,000 swabs
• The crucial R rate could be as high as 2.5 in the north-east, experts say

The news comes as a top academic warns the UK faces a second hard lockdown if partying Brits don't follow lockdown rules.

Immunologist Peter Openshaw says Covid-19 "isn't a game" after cases began reappearing in the UK's care homes.

He urged caution amid reports Covid wards have been told they may need to reopen in just three weeks.

Young people – who Matt Hancock says are responsible for the rise in new infections – went out on the town last night despite claims the UK is "losing control" of the virus.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is drawing up plans to issue 4.5million people with letters ordering them to shield once again.

Vulnerable Brits could be told to isolate amid fears coronavirus is spreading through care homes.

Those at risk of the deadly bug will be sent letters with advice telling them to stay inside if cases reach dangerous levels.

In a bid to halt the rising number of new cases, everyone in England has been ordered to comply with stringent new measures from next week.

The PM all but cancelled Christmas after saying the restrictions – which include a prohibition on people in England meeting in groups of more than six – could go on for six months.

It was also revealed this week that the crucial R rate has soared to 1.7, while there are fears millions of people living in Newcastle, Leeds and Merseyside will be the next affected by stricter lockdowns.

Meanwhile, coronavirus infections have surged among middle-aged Brits as vases in over-50s rocketed by 92 per cent last week.

Senior government officials have said the rise in cases in higher risk groups is "worrying" as Downing Street looks to stem the spread of the bug heading into the winter.

Until Friday, coronavirus cases had predominantly been rising among under-25s – who are statistically at far less risk of severe health complications from contracting the virus.

But the new spike in infections in older-age groups has also resulted in an increase in hospital admissions, which were up 20 per cent last week compared with the week before among those aged 60 to 75.

Source: Read Full Article