MP Nadine Dorries has tonight claimed the only way the UK will "exit full lockdown" is when a vaccine for Covid-19 is found.
Mrs Dorries, Health Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health, made the claims on Twitter - even though the Government has not yet officially announced when the restrictions will be lifted.
She tweeted: "Journalists should stop asking about an ‘exit strategy.’
"There is only one way we can ‘exit’ full lockdown and that is when we have a vaccine.
"Until then, we need to find ways we can adapt society and strike a balance between the health of the nation and our economy."
Broadcaster Piers Morgan retweeted Mrs Dorries' claims, saying: "Health minister says UK will be in ‘full lockdown’ until there is COVID-19 vaccine - which experts say will be at least 18 months. Astonishing break from other Govt statements."
However, Mrs Dorries appeared to then do a u-turn and in response said: "No I haven’t Piers! What a ridiculous interpretation.
"I said society needs to adapt. It would be more helpful to talk about ‘relaxing lockdown’ than constantly demanding an ‘exit strategy.’
"My point being, some of you guys need to start asking more intelligent questions."
It comes as Dominic Raab said the Government will not even consider lifting the UK coronavirus lockdown this week.
The Foreign Secretary said the UK was still not "past the peak of the virus" and added that "we don't expect to make any changes to the measures currently in place" after the scientific advisory group (SAGE) meets later this week.
He said the country could not afford to take its "foot off the pedal" and risk a second wave of the virus.
Commenting on accusations the Government lacked an exit strategy, Mr Raab said: "It's absolutely crucially important that we do not take our eye off the ball or the public's focus on the thing that has been a success so far in relative terms - which is our ability through widespread support for our social distancing measures to deprive this virus of the means to spread."
The Cabinet is reportedly split on when to lift the lockdown with divisions over saving the economy competing with the need to suppress the coronavirus pandemic.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is understood to be worried that a long lockdown could damage the economy, while Health Secretary Matt Hancock believes the protection of the NHS should be the main priority.
Labour Party leader has called on the Government to reveal its strategy for exiting the coronavirus lockdown this week.
In a letter to Dominic Raab, Sir Keir said Britons "need a sense of what comes next" - despite millions have been sticking to the rules.
He called on ministers to be "open and transparent" about how the restrictions, announced by Boris Johnson on March 23, will come to an end.
Ministers are understood to be worried about the hidden costs of the lockdown, such as a rise in suicides due to the mental strain of isolation, or the impact of missed cancer diagnoses.
Among the main concerns are also a rise in domestic violence cases by almost a third, the number of people claiming benefits and the effects the lockdown can have on children who are away from school.
