Keir Starmer has urged Boris Johnson to introduce a three-week circuit breaker lockdown to regain control of coronavirus.
The Labour leader hosted a press conference tonight and said that the government had "lost control" of the virus and was "no longer following the science".
Mr Starmer pointed to the recent minutes from SAGE which show that the government were advised by scientists to bring in more measures because not acting would result in a resurgence of the epidemic.
One of their recommendations was a "circuit breaker" lockdown of two to three weeks to bring the R rate down.
If the government introduced this measure scientists predicted it could set the epidemic back by 28 days and that the more rapidly it was put in place the greater the reduction in Covid deaths.
Mr Starmer said that the Prime Minister had not acted on the advice and instead had introduced far less stringent measures that he promised would drive down the R rate, but this is not supported by the evidence.
SAGE said that the track and trace system was only having a "marginal" impact and that 19 of the 20 areas under local lockdown restrictions had all seen their infection rates go up not down.
Mr Starmer said: "There is no longer any time to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt, another plan is needed.
"That's why I'm calling for a two or three week circuit breaker lockdown to get the R rate down.
"This would not mean schools closing, but if done soon it could run over half term.
"Only essential work and travel would be permitted, household mixing would be restricted to one household.
"Pubs bars and restaurants would be closed but compensated so no business loses out.
"The UK parliament should also move to remote working.
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"We have a chance to reset and rectify mistakes the government has made and to hand over track and trace to local authorities.
"These measures would be accompanied by extensive support for jobs and businesses, because every job matters, every business matters.
"This was not inevitable but it is now necessary if we are to protect the NHS and get control of virus."
Mr Starmer then directly addressed the Prime Minister.
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He said: "You know the scientific evidence backs this approach, you know the restrictions wont be enough, you know a circuit break is needed now, you cant keep delaying it and coming back to the House of Parliament with another plan that wont work.
"Act now, break the cycle, if you do you will have the votes in the House of Commons.
"We're at a tipping point but if we act now and break the circuit we can get back control of the virus.
"Otherwise we will sleepwalk into a long bleak winter, that is the choice for the Prime Minister to make, I urge him to do so now."
