NEW coronavirus variants pose the biggest threat to lockdown easing, Matt Hancock warned today.
The next stage of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown was confirmed last night during a Downing Street press conference.
? Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
From May 17 pubs can serve people inside and overnight stays will be allowed.
But despite the easing of restrictions going ahead, the Health Secretary today said the Indian variant has grown in the UK.
Last week surge testing was rolled out in Bolton after it emerged cases of the India variant had been discovered.
It was also revealed yesterday the variant could be behind 40 per cent of cases in London.
Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast this morning: "There is no doubt that a new variant is the biggest risk. We have this variant that was first seen in India – the so-called Indian variant – we have seen that grow.
"We are putting a lot of resources into tackling it to make sure everybody who gets that particular variant gets extra support and intervention to make sure that it isn't passed on.
"However, there is also, thankfully, no evidence that the vaccine doesn't work against it."
His comments come after Professor Chris Whitty last night said one of the key factors in easing lockdown is keeping variants of concern under control.
Prof Whitty explained how problematic the so-called Kent variant (B.1.1.7) had been – after it was one of the main factors for the UK plunging into a third lockdown.
He did however reassure the nation, saying most of the variants in the UK are currently relatively stable and not increasing at a great rate.
"The one that is slightly concerning in terms of increasing as a proportion is the variant which has been described from India.
"That does appear to be increasing but from very low levels over the last two weeks", Prof Whitty added.
Prof Whitty said we needed to "keep a close eye on it", incase cases start to rise.
During the press conference last night he said the success of the vaccine rollout had also contributed to the decision to ease restrictions.
So far in the UK over 35.4 million Brits have received a first dose of a vaccine, with 17.8 million now also having had a second dose.
Mr Hancock added this morning the government still needed to be cautious with loosening restrictions on travel.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "We have some degree of confidence that the vaccine works effectively against the so-called Indian variant, and then against the South African variant we are a little bit more worried, but we don't have full data on those yet.
"These are reasons to take a cautious approach at the borders in order to protect the progress that we have made at home.
"People would be loath to see us put that at risk by going too fast at the borders. But on the other hand we are seeing countries get this virus under control in the same way we appear to be able to get it under control."
He said keeping some restrictions in place, as well as the continuous rollout of vaccine, should keep cases of the Indian variant at low levels.
Mr Hancock later told Times Radio: "We of course are maintaining a very close eye on the Indian variant, there isn't any evidence yet that the vaccine doesn't work against it."
Source: Read Full Article
