We are at a critical moment in the second surge of coronavirus. Ministers, scientists and officials are deeply concerned about the rate at which Covid-19 is increasing in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humberside: they believe the daily quantum of infection is doubling every five to seven days in large chunks of northern England.
They see the course of the virus as very similar to what happened in Italy in the first phase of the illness, where infections were concentrated in the north.
Ministers are therefore feeling their way towards imposing more severe restrictions on socialising in those areas. They are likely to impose closure of all hospitality venues – pubs and restaurants – for a period.
These new restrictions are most likely to be announced on Monday, although they could come earlier.
As I understand it, the Health
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