UK health sec on gatherings limit, vaccine 'challenge'

Britain's government is banning gatherings of more than six people in England, as officials try to keep a lid on daily new coronavirus infections after a sharp spike across the U.K. that has been largely blamed on party-going young adults disregarding social distancing rules.

Downing Street said urgent action was needed after the number of daily laboratory-confirmed positive cases hit nearly 3,000 on Sunday.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Wednesday that school and work places were exempt from the new rules which only applied to social gatherings.