Coronavirus news: R rate climbs again as cases surge and London braces for tighter restrictions

Middlesbrough's mayor refuses to accept local lockdown (PA)
Middlesbrough's mayor refuses to accept local lockdown (PA)

The UK’s coronavirus reproduction rate, or R value, has risen again to between 1.3 and 1.6 following a sharp spike in new cases in recent weeks, the government’s top scientific advisers have said.

London was among the areas seeing rising Covid-19 infections, amid reports that tighter restrictions would be imposed in the capital in the coming days.

Meanwhile US president Donald Trump was taken to hospital, just hours after announcing he and his wife had tested positive. White House officials said it was a “precautionary measure”.