Cases of coronavirus are on the rise across the country, meaning local lockdowns could be put into place if the numbers are not put under control. Officials have met and confirmed that Leicester will not be subject to easing of restrictions on July 4, and must continue as it is now. Measures have also been reversed, and non essential retail will have to close.

New confirmed cases are rising across 36 of the 151 upper-tier local authorities in England as the country moves through its lockdown phases.

The city of Leicester has made headlines, and is now the first city to have a localised lockdown put in place.

Matt Hancock confirmed the news in the commons this evening.

Leicester has an infection rate of 135 per 100,000 people, which is three times higher than the next highest local area, he said.

This means the East Midlands city will not move forward with the opening of social spaces, due to take place on July 4, and will have some liberties withdrawn.

Some 1000 people are still testing positive for coronavirus every single day across the UK.

The UK has now suffered over 42,000 direct deaths from the virus, the worst death toll in Europe.

Cases are on the rise across the world, with the USA and Brazil passing a million cases each and sudden outbreaks taking place in Latin American and South Asia.

In the US, President Trump has either played down the disease or blamed China and the WHO for it, and in urging for a rapid reopening of the American economy.

Worldwide, it took three months for the first one million people to become infected with coronavirus, but just eight days to clock up the most recent million.