A FURTHER seven people have tested positive for coronavirus in Oxford within 24 hours as the Health Secretary warned of a possible second peak.

The city cases made up an additional 19 new confirmed cases in Oxfordshire announced by Public Health England, as of 9am today.

The rate of infection in Oxfordshire now stands at 525 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 537.

Across Great Britain 2,420 new people with a lab-confirmed positive test result were reported during the same period, taking the total to 352,520.

Matt Hancock warned of a potential second peak of the virus following a 'concerning' rise in the number of cases.

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Speaking in the House of Commons as he imposed further restrictions in Bolton, the Health Secretary said: "This is not over. Just because we have come through one peak doesn’t mean we can’t see another one coming towards our shores.”

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, also warned that if people stop social distancing then 'Covid comes back'.

It came amid a senior official at NHS Test and Trace issuing an apology to people unable to get a Covid-19 test.

Director of testing Sarah-Jane Marsh said there was capacity at testing sites but laboratories processing the tests were at a 'critical pinch-point'.

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There had been reports of people being told there are no appointments available at test centres in England and that there are no home tests kits available to send out.

Globally, there have now been more than 27.3 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, with more than 890,000 deaths. The US continues to record the most cases and deaths.

The UK remains the 14th highest for cases and has the fifth highest death toll.