Matt Hancock made the stark assessment as ministers brought in fines of up to £10,000 under strict new laws on self-isolation, amid fears rules were simply being flouted. With cases rising across the country, Mr Hancock said there was a danger the numbers could 'shoot through the roof' unless effective action was taken to halt the spread of the virus. Despite dire warnings about the economic impact of another total lockdown, the Health Secretary said it was still an option if the measures already taken were not effective. He told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: 'This country faces a tipping point. We have a choice, and the choice is if everybody follows the rules and does the self-isolation if they need to, follows the rule of six, which is really simple and clear, and the basics, hands, face and space, then we can avoid further measures. But the alternative to that choice is that we will have to bring in more action.’ With his ministers locked in debate this weekend over whether to introduce a second lockdown that would devastate the economy, the Prime Minister announced that he was creating a new legal duty for people to self-isolate if they test positive for the virus or are told to do so by Test and Trace staff. The Health Secretary told Britons to grass up their neighbours if they break the rules - and admitted he would do it himself.