Infections were doubling every nine days with a national R rate estimated at 1.56 compared to 1.16 in the previous round â although it could above 2.0 in London, according to the Imperial College London study.
Researchers said that current measures are "not sufficient" to control the spread of the virus. It comes as the Government is reportedly considering the rapid unrolling of saliva-based coronavirus kits in a bid to test up to 10 per cent of England's population every week .
Meanwhile a classified Sage report, published by the Spectator, reveals fears that 85,000 people could die during a "worst-case" second wave this winter. It comes as the UK's official death toll rose by 280 overnight, with another 23,065 cases confirmed.
