Covid news – live: West Yorkshire moved into Tier 3 lockdown as Hancock warns of ‘worrying rise’ in cases

Matt Hancock has warned of a "worrying rise" in cases as new restrictions are handed down to regions across the country.

It is understood the West Midlands, including Birmingham, is expected to move into tier 3 restrictions within days unless infection rates drop significantly. The leader of Birmingham City Council said the city moving into the highest level of measures was “inevitable”, if not “imminent”.

Oxford has also announced it will move to tier 2 restrictions at one minute past midnight on Saturday.

Meanwhile experts have warned a second national lockdown is needed after a study estimated UK coronavirus cases are nearing 100,000 each day.  

Government scientific adviser Dr Mike Tildesley said some kind of national lockdown - “a circuit-breaker, or something along those lines” - would have more effect than putting the entire country into tier 2 restrictions by Christmas. Â

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