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Coronavirus infections have increased by a further 4,422 cases – the latest test results shared in the UK on Saturday reveal.

Official government figures now show that 390,358 Brits have been infected with the potentially fatal virus, with a further 21 deaths recorded.

Of them, 16 were recorded in England, three in Scotland and two in Wales.

Northern Ireland recorded no deaths, but has seen infections increase by 222 cases – which is believed to be the highest number of single-day cases recorded in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.

An increase yesterday, September 18, of 27 was the largest single-day jump in fatalities related to the virus since May 8.

The 4,322 new cases were also the biggest single-day jump in infections since May 8 – when 4,649 cases were recorded in one day.

The sharp increase in infection rates comes amid fears a second lockdown are mounting.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, expressed concers that the UK is six weeks behind France and Spain – where coronavirus infections and hospital deaths have spiralled.

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  Pubs and restaurants could shut in days as Boris plots two-week 'circuit break' lockdown

Measures, including the Rule of Six – which prevents social gatherings in excess of six people – have been introduced in the hopes of controlling the spread.

While a "circuit breaker" two week lockdown has been touted as an option to control the spread of the virus without entering a second full scale lockdown.

Prime Minister Johnson warned: "We're looking very carefully at the spread of the pandemic as it evolves over the last few days and there's no question, as I've said for several weeks now, that we could expect (and) are now seeing a second wave coming in.

"We are seeing it in France, in Spain, across Europe – it has been absolutely, I'm afraid, inevitable we were going to see it in this country."

• Coronavirus

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