The number of Covid-19 infections is rising fast in some parts of Britain and the government is not ruling out any further measure to try and curb the spread, including a national lockdown, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

“It is a very difficult situation in terms of the growth of the virus,” Hancock said on Sky News, according to Reuters.

Asked whether the government was considering imposing a new national lockdown, he answered: “We don't rule anything out.”