The Health Secretary has 'ruled out' removing childcare or support bubbles in a bid to combat spiralling coronavirus cases.
Matt Hancock was speaking at a Downing Street press briefing this evening about efforts to keep the current spike of Covid-19 under control.
There had been rumours that Number 10 was considering axing the bubbles to try and further reduce the number of interactions between households.
But Mr Hancock said: "I can rule out removing the bubbles that we have in place - the childcare bubbles (and) the support bubbles are very important and we're going to keep them.
"I know how important they are to people and they are an important part of the system that we have got to support people whilst also having these tough measures that are necessary."
He continued: "The bubbles are there for individual, specific people - so if you have bubbled with somebody, that is the person you have bubbled with.
"You can't keep moving bubbles, that's very important. Somebody in your bubble essentially becomes effectively part of your household.
"It is important that people stick to the same bubble but the bubbles policy will stay."
The Health Secretary confirmed nearly 2.3million people have now had a vaccine jab, but pleaded with the public to stick with coronavirus rules.
Mr Hancock said the new variant of coronavirus is "highly contagious and it is putting the NHS under very significant pressure".
He echoed comments made earlier by England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, saying "we're at the worst point in this pandemic".
And he added: "The NHS, more than ever before, needs everybody to be doing something right now - and that something is to follow the rules.
"I know there has been speculation about more restrictions, and we don't rule out taking further action if it is needed, but it is your actions now that can make a difference.
"Stay at home, and please reduce all social contact that is not absolutely strictly necessary. That's what is needed: act like you have the virus."
