Boris Johnson is under growing pressure to impose heightened Covid-19 restrictions after fears were raised that the second wave could be more deadly than the first.
It comes after the UK recorded its highest daily Covid-19 death toll since May.
Downing Street did not deny a projection provided by Government scientists which suggested the coronavirus death toll could remain high throughout the winter and result in more fatalities than in the spring.
The analysis shared by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has reportedly led to intense lobbying from experts, including chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Valance, to take more drastic action.
A Government spokeswoman said ministers were receiving advice from a “wide range of scientific and medical experts” and that the latest figures are “concerning”.
Sage analysis suggests the highest level of restrictions, Tier 3, may be needed across all of England by mid-December, according to The Sun.
On Tuesday, the Government said that a further 367 people died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, while there were another 22,885 lab-confirmed cases of the virus.
The number of deaths is the highest daily figure since May 27, when 422 deaths were reported.
