Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the emergence of new coronavirus variants represent the “biggest risk” to lockdown easing in England.
Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “There is no doubt that a new variant is the biggest risk. We have this variant that was first seen in India – the so-called Indian variant – we have seen that grow.
“We are putting a lot of resources into tackling it to make sure everybody who gets that particular variant gets extra support and intervention to make sure that it isn’t passed on.
“However, there is also, thankfully, no evidence that the vaccine doesn’t work against it.”
Mr Hancock has said the Government will be urging people to exercise “personal responsibility” as lockdown restrictions in England are eased next week.
Mr Hancock said ministers would be publishing clear guidance on close personal contact.
“It depends on people’s circumstances. We will be changing the rules to be far more about people taking personal responsibility, exercising common sense according to their circumstances,” he told Sky News.
“We will set out really clearly the risks. People understand the risks – we know that – and we’ll make that very, very plain and then people can exercise their own personal responsibility.”
He added: “Grandparents, sometimes for the first time in over a year, will be able to be close to their grandchildren, but taking into account the individual risk of catching this disease which differs according to circumstances.”
