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The health secretary Matt Hancock has refused to rule out further "national action" and revealed talks are ongoing about possible London measures.

Here are five things we learnt from this week's Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

The UK is at a "tipping point" as coronavirus cases surge and Mr Hancock has said "national action" cannot be ruled out.

Mr Hancock told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "The nation faces a tipping point and we have a choice and the choice is either that everybody follows the rules, or we will have to take more measures.

"And I don't want to see more measures, more restrictive measures, but unfortunately, if people don't follow the rules, that's how the virus spreads".

It's a stark warning from a government that has tiptoed between making clear it is desperate to avoid another full lockdown, and to stress it won't take the option off the table.

The UK has "seen in the data that some people who need to self-isolate" aren't doing so, something the health secretary was on the programme to warn against.

Asked if he would report someone breaking the rules (now putting them in line for a £10,000 fine), he said: "Yes, and everybody should."

"This is a really difficult moment," Mr Hancock added, and said that "in terms of a national action, of course we don't rule that out but everybody wants to avoid it".

With London's mayor Sadiq Khan calling for restrictions in the capital, he also confirmed he had "had discussions" with City Hall and further meetings would take place.

Labour leader calls for Boris Johnson to apologise

Sir Keir Starmer said "the government has now effectively lost control of testing" and Boris Johnson should apologise.

Labour's leader told Sophy Ridge: "I don't think a national lockdown is inevitable, although I think it's more likely because testing is all over the place.

"One of the concerns I have, is that because the government has now effectively lost control of testing, it doesn't necessarily know where the virus is.

"So if I was the prime minister, I would apologise for the fact that testing is all over the place. I would apologise, I would make fixing testing my first priority."

As case numbers spike, Sir Keir called for the daily coronavirus briefings to be brought back, saying: "I think the prime minister needs to reinstate the daily briefings, press briefings, so that everybody knows that's going on."

The Labour leader's approach of "constructive opposition" has clearly paid off as his party pulled level in the polls with the Conservatives this week. But apart from providing a leader billed as more competent, what exactly Mr Starmer wants for the country has yet to be defined.

A national lockdown is too early

Coronavirus cases may be on the rise, but as for a lockdown, "if we go now, it's too early", according to Oxford's Carl Heneghan.

The idea of a two-week 'circuit break' over an extended half-term holiday has been suggested, but the Oxford professor of evidence-based medicine said "there's no evidence right now of what's called a second wave" and any action should be delayed to December.

Mr Heneghan warned: "What we have to do now is slow down. This is a long winter, we cannot afford to go now with harsh measures.

"We have to understand the context of respiratory infections", the professor added, saying appointments for respiratory infections will go up "four-fold in a good year", between now and January and "in a bad year they'll go up eight-fold, as it gets colder, as we're inside more, there will be more coughs and colds".

"Therefore there may come a point in the winter when actually there is a need for restrictive measures.

"If I was talking about what the prime minister is talking about, a cycle break, I'd be looking at the Christmas break right now to extend it."

Care homes are just not ready

Care home bosses are "extremely concerned" about government policy that would allow people infected with coronavirus into facilities, according to Nadra Ahmed of the National Care Association (NCA).

"I have seen some correspondence from providers who have actually written to say they feel like they are being asked to take people," she said, adding: "We are really concerned, because we need those negative tests and then we need to test them again whilst they are in our service, so we need to have all that available to us."

Responding to figures showing outbreaks in care homes had surged from 35 two weeks ago to 228 last week, she said the virus was "beginning to move into" the sector.

With fears of untested visitors, the NCA chair said: "We are really concerned that the exposure is still there and we need to shut it all down. That's the thing, this is a shielded group of people and I think that needs to be taken much more seriously than it is at this moment in time."

You thought it was safe to go back in the water

COVID-19 may in the headlines but it's not the only thing in politics this week. Sir Keir Starmer "needs to listen to the left" or he will "steer the ship onto the rocks", Len McCluskey has warned.

The Corbyn-allied Unite general secretary said: "I'm not worried at the moment but of course, we will review the situation. My belief is that if he sticks to the kind of progressive, ambitious alternatives that have been developed under Labour in the last five years, then I think he will be our prime minister."

Asked what might happen if Sir Keir did not, he replied: "I think he'll be in trouble. He needs to listen to the left because without the left within our movement, he will I'm afraid, steer the ship onto the rocks."

It is a shot across Sir Keir's bows from the outgoing head of one of the most powerful Labour-supporting unions and a supporter of now-sacked rival Rebecca Long-Bailey for the party leadership.

:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on , , ,

Labour under Mr Starmer has made recent nods to the Corbyn era, including suggesting the pledge to end tuition fees will be kept, but has been careful not to commit itself to many specific policies.

Along with a jab at new slogan "A New Leadership" as "a bit meaningless although it's a statement of fact", Mr McCluskey's words are a reminder that the unions have their own opinions on what defines the Starmer era.