TIGHTER lockdown controls could be introduced after scientists warn the UK is in the 'eye of the storm'.

Senior ministers have discussed the prospect of introducing tighter lockdown controls in an effort to improve compliance with the current rules, according to reports.

The Prime Minister reportedly spoke with senior ministers on Sunday, January10,  to evaluate “whether the current lockdown rules were working” in reducing the spike of coronavirus cases, the Daily Telegraph suggested.

The paper said the Government was considering scrapping the exemption allowing people to exercise with one other person from outside of their household or support bubble.

A Government source is said to have told the paper that the allowance was “being used as an excuse for people to go for a coffee in the park with their friends”, adding: “It may be we tighten up on things like that.”

Ministers are also preparing to tell supermarket bosses to get tougher on policing social distancing restrictions and mask wearing in-store, the Times said after experts fear shops are becoming 'hotspots' for the virus.

People could also be asked to wear face coverings in shop queues and even at work, it was claimed.

The majority of outbreaks examined by Public Health England last week came from care homes, where 749 incidents were recorded. A total of 166 came from workplaces, 79 from hospitals, 33 were from educational settings such as schools and 11 were from food outlets. 

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned: “Earlier this week, the UK’s four chief medical officers and the NHS medical director recommended raising the national alert level to the maximum of level 5 for the first time.

“This means that, without further action, there is a material risk of our healthcare services being overwhelmed within 21 days.”

The warning comes as the number of patients with Covid-19 in hospital reaches a record high in England, while the official coronavirus death toll for the UK passed 80,000 on Saturday and lab-confirmed cases hit more than three million.