Wrapping up his remarks, Vallance says the R number is not as high as it could be thanks to restrictions but that further measures are need to "bring it under control".

Vallance now moves on to talk about hospital admissions, a key indicator of the spread of the virus and mounting pressures on the NHS.

He says rates are increasing in all age groups but most sharply in the over-85s, followed by the 75-84 age group.

However, he says since August 40% of all admissions have been among people aged below 60.

As for admissions to intensive care, he says they are highest among 65-84 year olds.

Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent

There are big hopes for these "fast turnaround" tests; a potentially nimble way of detecting the virus. But Boris Johnson, who enjoys optimism, is still urging caution.

And critics will perhaps raise a sceptical eyebrow too. His prior promise of delivering a "world-beating" test, track and trace system has come under plenty of scrutiny in recent months.

Vallance is now talking about two maps of the UK showing Covid’s geographical spread.

He says the epidemic is increasing across the whole of the UK, but most strongly in the north-west and north-east England, the Midlands and London.

He then talks about the prevalence of the virus among different age groups in different regions of the UK, illustrated through a regional heat map.

While in the South-West, an increase in cases among 16-29 year-olds had not filtered through to older age groups, that has clearly happened in other parts of the UK "at different rates".

Vallance goes on to talk about the R number – that’s the reproduction rate of the virus, which measures its ability to spread – and its estimated range across the UK.

The current projected rate is between 1.3 and 1.5. That’s slightly lower than the start of the month but also much higher than the figure seen during the summer, when it dipped consistently below 1.

Any number above 1 indicates the number of cases is increasing.

While the number has gone up, it has not risen to a rate of 3 - which would be expected without any mitigating measures - due to the restrictions which are in place.

“We are not where we need to be and there is more work to be done to get where we need to be.”

Sir Patrick Vallance is now presenting the latest data in a series of slides.

The first is an estimate of the number of people testing positive in England, based on the ONS Household Survey, which he says crept down over the summer and is now rising.

He says estimated new cases numbered 312,000 to 362,000 in the two weeks between 25 September and 8 October. That a “big increase”, he says.

He goes on to talk about the “incidences” of new cases, based on studies by ONS and React and different modelling groups.

The ONS studies show 22,700 to 38,200 new cases up to 8 October, he says, adding that there is a lag effect and the numbers could be higher.

Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent

Boris Johnson is making the case for further restrictions in Greater Manchester and piling pressure on local leaders to agree. But he’s also making it clear that he will step in and go ahead with such measures, even if they don’t.

Earlier the foreign secretary said the Labour mayor, Andy Burnham, was trying to hold the government over a barrel. But the truth is, it’s ultimately Downing Street that gets to decide.

The testing system must be set up effectively and safely, the PM says. It's "crucial" that systems work safely and it "will take time" before many companies and organisations can buy and use kits to use on employees, he adds.

People who test positive for coronavirus must self-isolate, Boris Johnson says, adding that this is vital for suppressing Covid.

People must do these "simple things" to protect each other, he argues.

The government is taking "every possible step" towards creating a coronavirus vaccine, the PM says.

He adds that the UK is now testing more people than any other country in Europe, but it's vital to catch more asymptomatic cases to restrict the virus's "vicious spread".

Scientists have developed faster, cheaper tests, Boris Johnson says, and it's "becoming clear" that some of these are "highly effective".

Over the next few weeks some of these will be trialed, the PM says. Testing more quickly can prevent the spread of the virus through care homes, he adds.

Local health teams in high-infection areas will be "prioritised" in getting testing kits.

The PM says he "completely" understands Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's reluctance to move to Tier 3 - top-level - restrictions.

But the situation is "grave", with infection rates rising fast, he adds.

In just over two weeks there will be more patients in intensive care - according to present trends - than at the peak earlier this year, Boris Johnson says.

Time is short, he adds, saying he might "have to intervene", but he argues that efforts will be "more effective" if the government and Mr Burnham work together.

The prime minister says he's grateful to people in local government "hotspot areas" who have worked "constructively" with him.

He says there have been "tough discussions" in Lancashire, and that no one wants to introduce more restrictions, but that they are "necessary".

There is "significant support" for workers affected, Boris Johnson adds.

A reminder that in five minutes or so the Downing Street press briefing will be getting under way.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be chairing it, accompanied by his chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Public Health England's Dr Susan Hopkins.

Council leaders in Lancashire have been giving a press conference about the news the county will be going into the highest Covid alert level, tier three, from Saturday.

The move will mean pubs, bars and restaurants will be forced to close.

Workers at firms told to shut because of coronavirus rules over the winter will receive at least two-thirds of their pay from the government, under the Job Support Scheme by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The Liverpool City Region has said it will top up workers' pay, though it has not said how much they will receive.

Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said the county was considering doing the same itself.

"Most certainly, it will be something that we look at," he said.

Image source, Getty Images

The public health directors for Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool have made a joint plea to the public to stick to the rules.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Prof Dominic Harrison and Dr Arif Rajpura said it was a "very dangerous phase of the pandemic".

"Infection rates are going up across Lancashire, hospitals are getting busier and people are quite frankly sick of coronavirus and just want life to return to normal.

"That's something we all want, but we have to level with you - it isn't happening any time soon.

"All of our lives have been affected by coronavirus and will continue to be so until we have a vaccine."

They said the next month would be critical in getting the virus under control.

"By sticking to the restrictions - even though we know it's hard - and following the simple guidance around hands, face and space you will help limit the spread of coronavirus."

Image source, Reuters

France is introducing rapid Covid-19 tests at airports, according to the health minister.

Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said the tests will be put in place by the end of October.

The tests will be offered to passengers heading to the US and Italy, along with arrivals from nations on the "red" coronavirus list.

The global industry body International Air Transport Association (IATA) is pushing for the tests to be given to all departing passengers at airports.

Scientists say rapid tests can accurately diagnose a coronavirus infection within 90 minutes without needing a specialist laboratory.

Image source, PA Media

In about half an hour we will hear the latest about the state of play in the UK and the government’s efforts to try and contain the growth of coronavirus across England.

Boris Johnson will chair a press conference in Downing Street.

He will be accompanied by the UK government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, and Dr Susan Hopkins, an epidemiologist and Public Health England official who is the UK government's medical adviser to the Covid-19 response.

The PM is likely to face questions about the growing number of people living in "very high" Covid areas, after it was announced Lancashire will move into the highest of the three alert levels on Saturday, joining the Liverpool City Region.

It followed an agreement with local leaders on a package of financial support - although some have come out subsequently and said they felt “bullied” into accepting tougher restrictions.

The government worked in "consultation" with councils over moving regions into the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions, Downing Street has said.

The prime minister's spokesman said Boris Johnson was "very grateful" that council leaders in Lancashire "worked in consultation with the government and have come on board" - after some Lancashire leaders were reported as saying they were bullied into the region's move to tier three.

Downing Street also insisted it was up to regional leaders to decide whether gyms should be closed as part of the top level of restrictions.

• Lancashire to move to highest alert level

As we mentioned earlier, in the Liverpool City Region gyms are closed, but they will remain open in Lancashire when it enters tier three.

Asked about financial support for regions affected by stricter restrictions, the PM's spokesman suggested that no further fiscal support would be provided to Greater Manchester in the bid to encourage the region to accept tier three proposals.

And Number 10 said Johnson was not currently looking at imposing a so-called "circuit-breaker" national lockdown.

His spokesman added: "We do keep all measures under review but [the PM] has set out this week that he doesn't believe there should be a national lockdown, and that we believe our three-tiered approach is the right way forward."

Your Questions Answered

More and more people in the UK face tougher restrictions as the government tries to stop Covid spreading.

We're answering some of your questions about the rapidly changing rules, and other related topics.

Luke in east London asks: If my partner and I both live alone in separate houses can we stay at each other’s?

From Saturday 17 October - as you live in London which is becoming a tier two area - you will no longer be allowed to visit each other indoors or stay overnight in each other’s homes. Meeting indoors in private spaces and indoor public spaces such as a pub or restaurant will be breaking the law in a tier two or tier three area, unless you have formed a support bubble.

A support bubble , external"is where a household with only one adult joins with another household". Households in that support bubble "can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit public places together”.

Another exception is if you are in a legally permitted childcare bubble, external, “where someone in one household provides informal childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household”.

You can still meet each other outside, including in a garden or outdoor space or outdoors at a pub, restaurant, leisure or entertainment venue and place of worship.

• Read more of your questions here

BBC Radio 5 Live

The owner of a Merseyside gym that stayed open despite strict new tier three coronavirus restrictions in the Liverpool City Region has said he believes the area will "follow Lancashire" - and allow gyms to stay open.

Police attended Body Tech Fitness in Moreton, Wirral, twice on Wednesday as the measures came into force.

The rules for the Liverpool City Region mean gyms, betting shops and many pubs cannot open.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Nick Whitcombe said he believed there had been "an oversight" and that once decision-making had been "handed back" to the local authority gyms would "remain open".

He said that local leaders feel there is "no evidence to support gyms closing".

It comes after it was announced that Lancashire move into the top tier of England's coronavirus restrictions from 00.01 on Saturday.

The "very high" alert level measures include pub closures and bans on household mixing indoors, in private gardens and most outdoor venues.

However, it was revealed that gyms and leisure centres would not close, unlike in the Liverpool City Region.

Lancashire was "bullied" by the government into going into the highest Covid alert level, three council leaders from the county have claimed.

In a joint statement, Matthew Brown and Mohammad Iqbal, leaders of Preston City Council and Pendle Council respectively, said the prime minister's officials, led by Sir Ed Lister, were "unwilling to listen to any evidence" and did not present a plan on how the government's proposals would control the virus.

They said schools, retail, the workplace and a minority of non-compliant individuals were behind the majority of coronavirus transmission, but officials told them these and other areas were "off-limits" and "non-negotiable".

"Throughout the negotiations, government officials were only interested in the politics and threatened any district leader who did not fall into line with 10 Downing Street's threats to accept tier three would suffer an imposition of tier three and that their borough 'would become an island' that would receive much less in funding and resource."

Paul Foster, leader of South Ribble Council, echoed the views, describing the discussions as a "complete shambles".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government had "worked intensively with local leaders" to agree the move.