VIRUS SPREAD
New coronavirus map shows how cases have spread across the country in just weeks
A NEW coronavirus map released today has revealed how cases have spread across the country in just weeks.
The deadly bug can be seen to be growing in Northern England - with some areas even reporting more than 200 infections per 100,000.
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Other areas in the North and North West are increasing to 150-199.9 cases per 100,000 people.
Lancashire has particularly seen a spike in cases, with it revealed the area was going into Tier 3 today in a desperate attempt to control infections.
But it's not just the North and North West that has been hit badly by a growth in cases.
Much of the South has now reported 50-99.9 cases per 100,000 people.
It comes as...
- Boris Johnson today warned he will force Manchester into Tier 3 if the mayor refuses to accept lockdown
- The coronavirus R rate has crept up again - highest in the South West
- Another 136 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours while 15,650 cases were reported
- The confusing Tier lockdown rules are explained here
Sir Patrick Vallance today warned the graphs revealed the "epidemic is growing everywhere".
He said: "What you can see is that there is a concentration of high levels of cases in the North West, North East, and Midlands.
"The growth rate is fastest in the North West, some parts of the North East, London and some other areas."
Speaking today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wanted to avoid another national lockdown “if at all possible” but added he “cannot rule anything out”.
He said shielding was not being brought in at this stage, but said it would remain under constant review.
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Speaking today, Mr Johnson said accepting increased coronavirus restrictions is the "right and responsible" measure.
The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference: "Without action there is no doubt that our NHS would soon be struggling to treat the sheer number of people seriously ill with Covid.
"Non-Covid treatments and surgeries would need to be cancelled to cope and many more people would die.
"So, taking action is the right and responsible thing to do and it is backed up by significant support for areas on very high alert."
It comes as the R rate climbed up even higher today, reaching between 1.3 to 1.5 across the country.
Mr Johnson urged leaders in Greater Manchester to “reconsider and engage constructively” over Tier 3 restrictions but warned he would intervene if an agreement could not be reached.
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Mr Johnson revealed cases in Manchester are now at 690 cases per 100,000 for those aged between 16 to 29 year old, and have jumped to 224 cases per 100,000 for the most at-risk age group - the over 60s.
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He warned Manchester's ICU bed capacity are already over 40 per cent full.
Mr Johnson said he hoped Manchester's Mayor would "come with us" as they imposed local lockdowns.
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Boris Johnson says coronavirus situation in Manchester is 'grave and worsens with each passing day'
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