Liverpool is at risk of being put into lockdown due to a huge spike in coronavirus cases, residents have been warned.
According to Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson the city recorded 100 more positive cases in the last 24 hours.
Residents were warned Liverpool now has a infection rate of 80 positive tests per 100,000 people, higher than some areas such as Caerphilly where extra measures are now in place, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Mayor Anderson tweeted today: "Liverpool has now reached the level of 80 per 100,000 people testing positive for Covid-19. With the R rate nearing 1.3%.
"An increase of 100 people in last 24 hrs total now at 410. A real worry and concern that unless we all take this seriously we could face a City Lockdown."
The warning comes just days after the whole of Merseyside was added to the Government's coronavirus watchlist following a steep rise in cases.
Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens have all now been placed on the Covid-19 danger list, which means that the Government is now closely monitoring infection rates and could soon impose new restrictions on the region if cases continue to rise.
Speaking at a Liverpool City Council cabinet meeting on Friday, Liverpool's Public Health Director Matthew Ashton said the rise in cases in Liverpool was 'very concerning'.
He said: "This is a very concerning situation for us, there has been a very rapid rise in infections.
“These cases are rising across the whole city, we are experiencing widespread community transmission of Covid-19.”
Last week the infection rate in Liverpool stood on 60 positive tests per 100,000 people - so today's number from the Mayor represents another worrying jump.
Covid-19 infection rates and the daily number of deaths are higher in the north of England and Scotland than the south.
However, in recent days some councils in London have warned of imposing stricter measures if cases continue to rise.
There were 3,330 new infections of Covid-19 across the UK on Sunday with fears the increases could continue into next week.
Hospital admissions and hospital deaths have remained low despite the sudden uptick in coronavirus cases.
In a bid to prevent cases from rising further, social gatherings of more than six people including babies and toddlers are illegal in England from tomorrow - with offenders facing £100 fines.
Professor Peter Openshaw, who advises government body SAGE, has warned the UK faces a new 'hard' lockdown if Brits don't obey the new rule of six.
The Imperial College scientist added "we must act fast" to stop the virus exploding - and warned a delay of even a “few days” could be “dangerous”.
