Matt Hancock hits out at people not sticking to social distancing rules after UK coronavirus spike

Matt Hancock has blamed the "concerning" UK surge in coronavirus cases on people having "problems with social distancing".

The Health Secretary appealed to under 25s, particularly those aged 17 to 21, to take the guidelines seriously because “nobody wants to see a second wave here”.

He said this age group accounted for a large number of positive cases, concentrated among more affluent young people.

Covid-19 cases hit a three month high on Sunday with 2,988 new infections logged, but Mr Hancock rejected criticisms that this simply reflects higher testing levels, warning the test positivity rate is also on the rise.

He told LBC: “The rise in the number of cases we have seen in the last few days is concerning.

“It is concerning because we have seen a rise in cases in France, in Spain, in some other countries across Europe – nobody wants to see a second wave here.

“It just reinforces the point that people must follow the social distancing rules, they are so important.”

He said younger people could still have serious illness and could pass on disease to more vulnerable people. “We will take action if people go to big social events that are completely inappropriate, sadly, in a time of coronavirus," he added.

When asked if people were not following the rules he added: “We certainly see cases where they are not, and then we take action.”

He said that many cases in Bolton were linked to a single pub which has been asked to close.

Mr Hancock said in Spain the number of hospitalisations has hiked by 14 times since the middle of July, and in France the number of people in hospital has trebled over the past month.

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