The first review date of the national coronavirus lockdown rules will not be until the middle of next month, senior Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has announced.
Mr Gove announced that the first possible review date of the lockdown Level 5 rules will be around six weeks from now - on Monday February 15.
He also said that the restrictions may not start to be eased until March.
The country was plunged into a third national lockdown last night as the government raised the coronavirus alert to Level Five.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new measures during a televised address to the country on Monday evening.
Mr Johnson said the government had to act as the new variant, which is up to 70 per cent more transmissible, was spreading in a “frustrating and alarming” manner.
On his announcement, Mr Johnson said that he hoped areas can start to be moved down the tiers at around February half-term.
However on Tuesday morning, Michael Gove told Sky News that March should mark the point at which some restrictions are starting to be eased.
Mr Gove said: “We will keep these constantly under review but you are absolutely right, we can’t predict with certainty that we will be able to lift restrictions in the week commencing February 15-22."
He clarified, on the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that the first possible review date of the new rules would be February 15.
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