Ministers are reportedly planning to re-introduce some Covid restrictions within weeks as cases continue to soar.
A report in the Independent said: "Officials in the Covid-19 taskforce have been drawing up proposals that could see baseline measures, such as mask-wearing, social distancing and guidance on working from home, reintroduced in England by next month.
"The taskforce is exploring the possibility of implementing the restrictions on a local, regional or national basis."
Sources claimed the decision would be based on the level of pressure on the NHS, Mirror reports.
Read more: North East gets 'enhanced government response' to huge Covid spike – but won't go back into lockdown
A Whitehall source told the Independent 'baseline' measures would be a last resort.
And an insider from Downing Street reportedly added that there would be no return to a hard lockdown, even as a circuit break.
It comes as reports said infections among people in their 20s have risen to a record high.
Boris Johnson had previously promised the relaxation rules, once made, would be irreversible.
But SAGE advisers have reportedly warned Boris Johnson to be prepared to act in the first week of August to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed within weeks, i news reported earlier in the week.
One source reportedly said what was needed was “less of an emergency brake and more of a gear change” in readiness to keep the third wave “under control”.
The reports come just days after the country's so-called 'freedom day' - which saw England enter the fourth stage of lockdown easing.
Despite cases spiking, the PM pressed ahead with freedom day for England, with most restrictions entirely scrapped - and an emphasis placed on personal responsibility to stop the spread of the virus.
Friday has seen a drop in the number of coronavirus cases of 30 per cent compared to the same day last week - but up to 97 per cent of local authorities in England have seen a weekly rise in infections.
There were 36,389 coronavirus cases recorded on Friday, according to Public Health England, a 30 per cent drop in the number of cases compared to last Friday's 51,870.
A Government spokesperson told The Mirror: “As a responsible Government, we have to be prepared to respond to unexpected events as the country learns to live with Covid-19.
"As part of our strategy to manage the virus, it is both right and sensible that we maintain contingency plans for reimposing restrictions at a local, regional or national level if evidence suggests they are necessary.
“As set out in guidance, we will continue to monitor the data on a regular basis to ensure there is no danger of the NHS facing unsustainable pressure.”
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