UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that the latest scientific advice is that the Indian variant of coronavirus – also known as the Delta variant – is 40 per cent more transmissible than the Kent strain.
Mr Hancock said that the emergence of the strain, which is now dominant in the UK, will affect the calculation on whether to procede with a full unlocking of restrictions in England on 21 June.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, the Conservative MP said he “wouldn’t rule out” measures such as wearing face coverings in public settings and working from home where possible continuing in the long term.
On Friday Nicola Sturgeon said there were around 1,500 confirmed cases in Scotland of the Indian variant, however there could be many more amongst the population.
The SNP leader attempted to calm fears by saying there are "strong indications" the vaccines are weakening the link between rises cases and hospitalisations
Speaking today, Mr Hancock told Andrew Marr: “The way we are looking at this is Step 4 involves the removal of the remaining social restrictions like the rule of six and some of the business closures which are still there.
“And separately we have a piece of work on what the social distancing rules should be after that.”
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In a separate interview with Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme, Mr Hancock said the Government “haven’t yet set out the approach to social distancing after Step 4” and that plans were currently being worked up with scientific advisers about how to proceed safely.
Measures on wearing face coverings in public places could continue after June 21, Matt Hancock has suggested (PA)
Labour signalled that it could support some restrictions remaining in place as long as they were borne out by evidence.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green told Sky News: “I would say if we have to maintain some protective measures beyond June 21, that is what the Government should do, but I think it is really important that it’s a decision taken on the basis of the data.”
Mr Hancock said he expected “around three fifths” of all adults in the UK to have been fully-vaccinated within the coming fortnight, with 52% currently double-jabbed, as indicators suggest vaccines are helping to cut the link between case rises and an increase in hospital admissions.
Former prime minister and Labour leader Tony Blair has argued that those who have been given both shots should be afforded extra freedoms as an incentive for people to take up the inoculation offer.
“I think since everybody is going to be able to get the vaccination, other than those who for medical reasons can’t, I think it really is important that people are encouraged to get vaccinated,” he told the Andrew Marr Show.
The drive to roll out vaccines to every adult by the end of July is continuing at pace as the Health Secretary announced those aged under 30 will be invited to book for their first dose this week.
The Indian variant has not led to a large increase in hospitalisations
The vaccine push comes amid growing concern that the Indian variant is fuelling a surge in cases across Britain.
Of the 12,431 Indian variant cases so far confirmed in the UK, 10,797 are in England, 1,511 in Scotland, 97 in Wales and 26 in Northern Ireland.
On Friday the UK recorded its highest number of new confirmed coronavirus cases – 6,238 – since late March, according to official figures, although Saturday’s number was down slightly at 5,765 lab-confirmed cases.
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Dame Anne Johnson, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London (UCL), said reopening would be a “very finely judged decision” and that society will need to learn to live with coronavirus.
Describing the incoming data this week as “absolutely critical”, the president of the Academy of Medical Sciences told Trevor Phillips On Sunday: “We certainly don’t want to go on delaying forever. It’s going to be a very finely judged decision when we see these results.”
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