Britain�s Prime Minister Boris Johnson wearing a face covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on October 7, 2020. (AFP photo)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has lost control of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK, says opposition Labour�s pensions policy chief Jonathan Reynolds.

Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Reynolds called for further restrictions in the country but noted that fresh lockdowns must "come with the economic support".

"The government has lost control of the messaging, they�ve lost control of Test and Trace and they�ve lost control of the virus," said the Labour MP, calling on Johnson to "get a grip."

So far, more than 590,800 have tested positive and over 42,700 have died so far in the country, and now areas in the north of England are facing tough restrictions next week under a three-tier lockdown system to be unveiled by Johnson on Monday.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Van-Tam, the country�s deputy chief medical officer, also said that England has reached a tipping point similar to the first wave of virus.

"In our national fight against COVID-19, we are at a tipping point similar to where we were in March; but we can prevent history repeating itself if we all act now," said Prof. Van-Tam in a statement on Sunday.

He described the current pandemic as "severe," noting that the crisis might get worse as winter is coming.

"Winter in the NHS is always a difficult period, and that is why in the first wave our strategy was - �contain, delay, research and mitigate� to push the first wave into spring. This time it is different as we are now are going into the colder, darker winter months. We are in the middle of a severe pandemic and the seasons are against us. Basically, we are running into a headwind."

On Wednesday, health minister Matt Hancock, warned about the country�s rising numbers of COVID-19 infections and an increase in people being hospitalized with the disease, saying, "we have got a very serious problem on our hands."

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/20776

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