Coronavirus UK news – Covid hits ‘CRITICAL’ point in England as London surges to worst R-rate case load in the country

THE coronavirus outbreak has reached a “critical point” in England, new research has warned.

With covid cases doubling in a month, the fastest rises have shifted from northern to southern England, where the R-rate has risen above 2.

New research from Imperial College London’s React-1 study shows a huge increase in infections across the entire country, with 18-24 years still worst hit but increasingly spreading the virus to more vulnerable groups.

The study warned that Tier 2 and Tier 3 restrictions simply weren’t having enough of an impact on the virus and that the Government desperately needed to enforce stronger measures to bring the virus back under control.

The news comes as London’s R-rate surged to the highest number in the UK, with best estimates suggesting it is now around 2.9, meaning each infected person spreads the virus to around three other Londoners on average.

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