Matt Hancock has said that the Government will decide if the last stage of England's roadmap out of lockdown will happen on June 21 - as originally outlined.
Speaking at a coronavirus briefing today, Mr Hancock said a decision will be made on June 14.
Scientists will know more about the transmissibility of the new Indian variant by next week, deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has said.
He told the Downing Street press conference: “I think scientists are sure that this virus is more transmissible than the strain that it is beginning to replace, which is the old Kent B.117 strain.
“The million dollar question is how much more transmissible – we don’t have that yet.
“We have a credible range that goes from a few percent more transmissible through to 50% more transmissible – I think most people feel it is going to be somewhere in the middle… but it is just too early.
“The best estimate that I can give you is that the data will begin to firm up some time next week and I think next week will be the first time when we have a ranging shot at what the transmissibility increase is.
“And that will then feed into models that will help us understand how this looks in terms of the future prospects in terms of resurgent disease, and from there, ministers will be able to make further decisions.”
He added the transmission of the new variant is “not inevitable” and it can be slowed down through “cautious behaviour”.
