Breaking News ! ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in. Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences A former World Health Organisation expert has backtracked on claims that the UK's Chief Medical officer was encouraging Boris Johnson to introduce a two-week national lockdown. Anthony Costello, professor of global health and sustainable development at University College London, said on Wednesday that Chris Whitty now supported blanket coronavirus restrictions. He tweeted: "I’m hearing from a well-connected person that government now thinks, in absence of testing, there are 38,000 infections per day. Chris Whitty is advising PM for a two week national lockdown." His comments prompted widespread media reports about another national lockdown being on the cards despite Mr Johnson insisting he is doing "everything in my power" to prevent one. Read more North East faces new lockdown as ministers 'plan to ration tests'-LIVE But on Thursday morning, Mr Costello rescinded his claim, saying another insider had told him that Mr Whitty did not support such plans. He said: "I've been told by another insider I respect that Chris Whitty does not support a 2 week lockdown, so I'm pleased to correct the record." Earlier this morning, health minister Edward Argar had been asked about the reports and dismissed the suggestion , telling Sky News: “It is not something I have seen within the department. “The Prime Minister has been very clear on this. He doesn’t want to see another national lockdown. Former WHO director Anthony Costello (PA) "He wants to see people abiding by the regulations and making the local lockdowns work.” Mr Argar said the Government believes the rise in coronavirus cases can be controlled through local measures as long as people adhere to the measures in place. Health minister Edward Argar dismisses claims of a two week national lockdown Asked about whether he could rule out another national lockdown, he told BBC Breakfast: "The key to making sure that doesn't happen is people adhering to the rule of the six, adhering to the regulations. "I know it's tough. This has been an incredibly tough year for everyone with huge sacrifices made by individuals, by businesses, by families. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 50 show all Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1/50 Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA 2/50 An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA 3/50 Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons 4/50 Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images 5/50 Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters 6/50 Captain Tom Moore via Reuters 7/50 Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA 8/50 An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters 9/50 Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA 10/50 Tobias Weller PA 11/50 Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed 12/50 London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle 13/50 A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA 14/50 Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters 15/50 A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters 16/50 General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters 17/50 Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 18/50 A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images 19/50 A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA 20/50 Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA 21/50 Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA 22/50 A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images 23/50 People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA 24/50 Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA 25/50 Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters 26/50 Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn 27/50 Westminster Bridge is deserted PA 28/50 A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA 29/50 An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn 30/50 Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images 31/50 A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow.

. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA 32/50 The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA 33/50 A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters 34/50 Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA 35/50 Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters 36/50 The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA 37/50 Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA 38/50 A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters 39/50 Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 40/50 A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images 41/50 A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn 42/50 A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 43/50 Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA 44/50 A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA 45/50 A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images 46/50 A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com 47/50 A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn 48/50 A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images 49/50 A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA 50/50 Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images 1/50 Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA 2/50 An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA 3/50 Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons 4/50 Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images 5/50 Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters 6/50 Captain Tom Moore via Reuters 7/50 Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA 8/50 An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters 9/50 Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA 10/50 Tobias Weller PA 11/50 Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed 12/50 London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle 13/50 A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA 14/50 Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters 15/50 A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters 16/50 General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters 17/50 Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 18/50 A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images 19/50 A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA 20/50 Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA 21/50 Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA 22/50 A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images 23/50 People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA 24/50 Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA 25/50 Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters 26/50 Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn 27/50 Westminster Bridge is deserted PA 28/50 A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA 29/50 An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn 30/50 Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images 31/50 A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA 32/50 The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA 33/50 A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters 34/50 Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA 35/50 Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters 36/50 The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA 37/50 Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA 38/50 A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters 39/50 Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 40/50 A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images 41/50 A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn 42/50 A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images 43/50 Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA 44/50 A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA 45/50 A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images 46/50 A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com 47/50 A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn 48/50 A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images 49/50 A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA 50/50 Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images "And the message is very clear. If we stick to that, if we stick to the hands, space and face guidance, we can avoid further national restrictions." It comes as cases have been rising over the last month with the UK recording nearly 4,000 new Covid-19 infections for the first time since the start of May. Read more Schools 'draw up plans to go part-time' in face of test shortage Where are the local lockdowns in northern England? Night-time industry 'set to lose 700,000 jobs without further support' North East faces new lockdown as ministers 'plan to ration tests'-LIVE Further lockdowns are now expected to be announced in North East England. Mr Argar said the region was seeing a spike in cases similar to that in the North West. “In the North East we are seeing a spike in infections. It is exactly what we have seen in the North West. We monitor that rate. Where we need to, we step in and take action,” he said. Mr Argar said that in the North West, the rise had been driven in part by people not adhering to the social distancing requirements.

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