Britain’s defences against the second wave of coronavirus are unforgivably weak

Editorial: The nation will have to fall back on lockdown measures that will be difficult to enforce

The record of the government has eroded trust (Getty)

With a degree of sophistication not previously seen at a Downing Street press conference, the chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, used a handful of slides and an animation to make a succinct and powerful case for the new “Rule of Six”.

As Boris Johnson added, the rule has to be legally enforceable to have much chance of success, though the police and “marshals” may encounter some resistance from the crankier, and drunker, elements of British society. 

As things stand, there is no alternative. The threat of a quick rise in cases is obvious and has been seen in parts of Europe. It demands a response.