Coronavirus: Rule of six won't be changed in England, says Gove

Image copyright EPA Image caption Children are included in new social distancing regulations in England

The "Rule of Six", the latest limits on social gatherings in England, will not be changed to exempt children under 12, Michael Gove has insisted.

The new rules, which limit six people to meeting indoors and outdoors, come into effect on Monday.

Similar rules in Wales and Scotland do not include children under 11 and 12 respectively. But Mr Gove said the England rules were "absolutely right".

It comes as one scientist warned UK could lose control of the virus.

"One would have to say that we're on the edge of losing control," Prof Sir Mark Walport, a member of the government's Sage scientific advisory group told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"You've only got to look across the Channel to see what is happening in France and what's happening in Spain."

Prof Walport said it was very important that children go to school and students return to university - but social interactions would have to be limited in other areas.

"The only way to stop the spread of this infection is to reduce the number of people we all come into contact with," he added.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the Rule of Six was "well-understood" as a public health message and had the public's support.

"As ever, the important thing is balance - eating out, seeing friends - that is fine, provided we do so in a way that is socially responsible, that's what the Rule of Six is about."

He said some people had "unwittingly" contributed to the spread of the virus because of the way they had interacted, adding: "So therefore, a clear message - as simple as possible - makes it easier for all of us to do what is helpful to others."

Speaking on Radio 4, he added that there needed to be "a degree of self-discipline and restriction" in order to deal with the challenges posed by the rising number of coronavirus cases across England - and the escalating R number, which measures the rate at which the virus is transmitted.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast he urged the public to behave in "a responsible fashion" amid fears people might treat the weekend as a "party weekend" ahead of the new restrictions coming into effect next week.

"These rules and regulations are there for our protection, but also for the protection of the most vulnerable in society", citing the elderly or those with underlying health conditions "who face far grimmer consequences" if they contract Covid-19.

"The onus is on all of us to do everything we can to make sure we abide by those rules.

"We do not want to see a further acceleration of the virus," he stressed.

Asked about Prof Walport's statement that the UK was "losing control", Mr Gove said it was "a warning to us all".

"There's a range of scientific opinion but one thing on which practically every scientist is agreed is that we have seen an uptick in infection and therefore it is appropriate we take public health measures."