Acting PM Dominic Raab has said it is "not responsible to start speculating about the individual measures" about lifting the coronavirus lockdown.
The First Secretary of State said that creating "mixed messages" could "create more uncertainty in the public's mind".
He added: "The delicate stage we’re at, is if we ease up too soon, we risk a second spike of the virus."
Speaking on Sky's Sophie Ridge on Sunday he added that a vaccine was "not likely to come to fruition this year".
But it could be useful if there are "multiple waves" of COVID-19 "further down the track".
Asked why the government would not publish the names of the scientific advisors on the SAGE committee, after it was reported that political advisors attended the meeting, Mr Raab said the list wasn't released to ensure members weren't "subject to undue influence".
It comes after days where leaders across the UK were divided over plotting a path back to normal.
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On Friday, Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said it could take place in three phases, "like a traffic light in reverse".
Red would see only "the most careful and controlled lifting of restrictions", amber would see more curbs eased and, if the virus does not re-emerge, Wales could move to the green zone.
He accused UK ministers of being "nervous" about being drawn into a similar conversation for fear of undermining the message to stay at home.
Mr Drakeford said: "The UK Government's position does seem to be that having announced a further three weeks of lockdown then the public won't be hearing from them again until very close to the end of that time period.
"Now I understand that they are nervous to be entering into this conversation publicly in case it dilutes the core message that we are still in lockdown, and they are nervous of moving into a different situation in case it undercuts that message.
"But in Wales, which is a much smaller place, we are always in conversations with one another, I have taken the view that it is more important to share our thinking with the Welsh public and for them to be part of that conversation.”
Insisting Cardiff had “worked closely with the rest of the UK throughout the pandemic”, he said: “Publishing the framework is part of our contribution to that work.”
It came 24 hours after Scottish counterpart Nicola Sturgeon said lifting restrictions north of the border would be phased.
Northern Ireland could also leave the lockdown at a different pace from the rest of the UK.
First Minister Arlene Foster said: “When we decide on the criteria together as to moving into the recovery and the renewal stage, it maybe that different parts of the United Kingdom … will move in a different way.”
Boris Johnson will return to work tomorrow to face a government serious questions about its handling of the crisis and calls from business to lift the lockdown to save the UK's economy.
