VIRUS TALLY
Virus deaths rise by 30 in highest daily toll for a month as 2420 test positive
CORONAVIRUS deaths have risen by 30 today in the highest daily toll for a month.
Today's figures show 41,584 have died of coronavirus in the UK to date and 2,420 people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours.
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The last time the death toll reached over 30 was on July 29 when 34 people died of COVID-19 across the UK.
Today's daily case tally of 2,420 includes figures for England, Scotland and Wales but not for Northern Ireland.
Public Health England - who help publish the UK government's daily figures - has not received the data for Northern Ireland's daily cases today.
This means 352,520 people have now tested positive for the virus in the UK to date.
Another 124 people were admitted to hospital across the UK today.
The news comes as cases rose by nearly 3,000 on both Saturday and Sunday - the highest rise in more than three months.
But while deaths have risen in comparison to August, the death toll is still significantly lower than at the pandemic's peak.
Scientists say the reduced death toll and smaller numbers being admitted to ICU could mean the virus is getting weaker.
And while cases are higher than they were over July and August, experts have said this could be due a mass increase in testing in the community.
While most testing during lockdown took place in hospitals, anyone who now has symptoms of the virus is encouraged to order a test in the UK.
Daily testing across the UK has shot up to almost 200,000 a day in the last month which could mean more cases are being picked up in the wider population.
HOUSEHOLD CRACKDOWN
The government is now poised to slash the number of people allowed to meet indoors after COVID-19.
The crackdown on household gatherings could be implemented in the coming days with up to £10,000 fines on the cards for those who flout the rules.
Current guidelines say people in England should not meet with more than one household.
Coronavirus laws currently state that no more than 30 people should gather in one place, but this could be cut to six.
Affluent young people are thought to be spreading the virus by gathering in larger numbers and flouting social distancing rules.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has urged teens and young adults aged 17 to 21 to stick to coronavirus restrictions - or risk infecting their grandparents.
And today, communities secretary Robert Jenrick urged Brits to follow coronavirus rules or risk returning to a full lockdown.
Mr Jenrick encouraged the public to take "great care" after the "concerning rise in cases" over the weekend.
Mr Jenrick told Sky News this morning: "There is a concerning rise in cases and it reminds us that we have to keep following the guidance.
"Although we are encouraged to return to the workplace to support jobs, cafes and so on, we need to do so responsibly.
"As we approach the autumn and winter there is going to be even more responsibility on all of us to keep following the guidelines.
"Nobody wants to see a return to full national restrictions of the kind we had earlier this year."
"WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY"
Two parts of the UK also saw increased local lockdown restrictions today as cases continued to rise.
In Bolton, pubs and restaurants will be forced to shut their doors due to a spike in cases.
Health secretary Matt Hancock introduced the new measures in an attempt to control transmissions in the Lancashire town.
People in Bolton will not be able to socialise with those from other households.
Rules preventing households from meeting in public will also be enshrined in law, meaning people in Bolton could be fined £100 for flouting regulations.
Mr Hancock said today: "We all have a part to play. Together we can tackle this, so long as we remember our actions today are consequences tomorrow.
"Each and every citizen has a responsibility to follow social distancing."
Caerphilly, in Wales, was also placed into local lockdown until at least October, banning people from leaving the county from 6pm tonight.
People will only be allowed to leave the South Wales area if they have a good reason - such as going to work if they cannot work from home.
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And meetings with other households indoors - including "extended households" - will be banned alongside overnight stays.
The measures follow a spike in cases in Caerphilly county borough, where the Welsh Government says there have been 133 new Covid-19 cases over the past seven days.
Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething told BBC Radio Wales this morning: "I can't overstate the seriousness of the position that we're in."
New national coronavirus crackdown: household gathering limit set to be cut after spike in cases
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