Follow Covid rules or see UK deaths return to spring levels, minister warns

Grant Shapps says we can't afford to wait until deaths are rising before taking action'

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The UK could return to the levels of mass coronavirus deaths seen in the spring unless people abide by social distancing rules, Grant Shapps has warned ahead of an appeal to the public by the government's most senior scientists.

Shapps, the transport secretary, said the country appeared to be on the same trajectory of new infections as countries such as Spain, and that without concerted action, could be faced with a significant increase in hospital admissions and then deaths.