"Local lockdowns" will be enforced in areas where there are coronavirus flare-ups as a part of the NHS test-and-trace system, Matt Hancock has said.
Speaking at the Downing Street press conference on Tuesday, the Health Secretary said the Government is putting a system in place alongside Publice Health England, the new joint bio-security centres and local directors of public health.
It comes as the Government prepares to ease more restrictions, with plans for schools to back next week and shops to reopen on June 15.
But Mr Hancock has now revealed that if an area sees a sudden resurgence of Covid-19, a localised lockdown will likely be enforced.
He said: “We will have local lockdowns in future where there are flare-ups and we have a system we are putting in place with a combination of Public Health England and the new joint bio-security centre, along with the local directors of public health who play an absolutely crucial role in the decision-making in the system to make sure if there is a local flare-up there is a local lockdown.
“And so local lockdowns will be part of the future system that we put in place as part of the NHS test-and-trace system.”
Mr Hancock also updated the nation on developments in supplying personal protective equipment (PPE).
He said the UK can now begin to replenish its PPE stockpiles after brokering new deals and increasing manufacture.
“I can announce that we have now signed contracts to manufacture two billion items of PPE here in the UK," the Health Secretary said.
“Around the world, we’ve signed deals with over 100 new suppliers including agreeing contracts for a further 3.7 billion gloves.
“While we continue to improve the logistics and work hard to get everyone the PPE they need, these new supplies mean we’re not simply keeping up with demand, we’re now able to begin to replenish our stockpiles.”
The Health Secretary also updated the UK on the latest developments in treatments, announcing a new trial of the anti-viral Remdesivir drug.
He told the press conference: “This is probably the biggest step forward in the treatment of coronavirus since the crisis begun."
