Coronavirus cases doubling every week

The COVID Diaries – 160 11th September

Coronavirus cases are doubling almost every week in England, and Birmingham has become the latest local authority to announce a tightening of lockdown measures. Meanwhile health officials flagged “worrying signs” of infections in elderly people.

Following signs of rapid acceleration in the number of virus infections, the former UK government chief scientific adviser Sir David King urged ministers to improve the NHS test-and-trace system. He said England was on a “knife-edge”.

King’s warning came as the latest figures showed another huge surge in UK positive cases on Friday – up to 3,539, compared with 1,940 a week ago.