The intervention comes as “surging” coronavirus infection rates put Britain on the brink of tougher lockdown measures, says the Times. The government’s scientific advisers have called for “urgent and drastic action” after cases doubled in 11 days to 14,542 and deaths doubled to 76 in the same period. The developments overshadowed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s attempts – in his speech to the Conservative Party conference – to focus on life after the pandemic.