DOCTORS have called for tougher measures to cut the number of people being infected with coronavirus.

The British Medical Association which represents doctors says current measures to stop the spread of the disease are not working.

There are fears of a second national lockdown being needed if hospitals are not able to cope with admissions.

Meanwhile leading scientist Professor Peter Horby said the UK is at a precarious point where a lockdown may be needed.

The BMA says “decisive” action is needed.

It follows news that the number of positive Covid-19 tests hit 28,000 over both days of the weekend.

More than 15,000 people tested positive for the disease on Saturday, and that figure fell to 12,800 on Sunday.

Figures also showed that 146 people have died over the weekend, with 81 deaths on Saturday and 65 on Sunday.

The number of positive cases nationwide was as low as 500 per day in July.

Now the BMA wants to change the rule of six to become a rule of two. It would mean only two households can meet, and that it should not exceed six people, ideally outdoors, rather than inside.

The association wants to make wearing face masks mandatory in all offices and working environments unless a person is working alone, and wearing masks outside where two metre distancing is not possible.

It has also called on the government to provide medical grade face masks to all over 60s and the vulnerable, free of charge.

There should also be a plan to hand out free masks to those exempt from prescription charges, and at the entrances to all public settings if someone has not bought a mask.

The BMA has also called for improvements to the NHS Test and Trace app, which has been criticised for being operated by private firms, and instead give people more detailed information about infection rates and measures they should take.

BMA chairman of council Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “Simple, effective rules and tighter restrictions are urgently needed to avoid communities suffering the paralysing impact of full lockdowns and the impact that uncontrolled infections will have on our NHS.

“We are having to swallow a very bitter pill of the infection continuing to spread at a perilous rate. Stronger measures brought in now could be a far sweeter pill in the long run for far more people.”