Covid-19 cases surge, London on high alert from Saturday

London will be on ‘high alert’ from Saturday - the second of the three-tier system introduced by the UK government earlier this week - as new Covid-19 cases surged across various parts of the British capital.

“Things will get worse before they get better,” health secretary Matt Hancock said, announcing new curbs in Essex, York and other areas. It means half of England’s population is now under local lockdowns.

MPs and local leaders from Manchester were in talks with Downing Street over placing the Greater Manchester area in the highest Tier 3 level, which would mean closing pubs, restaurants and other venues. Liverpool and some areas of Leicester are under toughest curbs in Tier 3.