Confirmed cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 have doubled in a week to reach almost 7,000, new data from Public Health England revealed today.
Matt Hancock warned the variant was spreading and represented up to three quarters of all new cases.
He was speaking at the 5pm Downing Street press conference as he again defended himself against scathing allegations by Dominic Cummings.
Mr Cummings, the prime minister’s former chief adviser, yesterday said Mr Hancock should have been sacked for lying during the pandemic, allegations which Mr Hancock denies.
Meanwhile ,Boris Johnson has said there is nothing in the data to suggest England will not be able to go ahead with the final stage of lockdown lifting on June 21
The Prime Minister, speaking during a hospital visit, said: “I don’t see anything currently in the data to suggest we have to deviate from the roadmap but we may need to wait.”
Mr Johnson said the results of a review would not be revealed until June 14, a week before the lifting of the lockdown.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs that on Wednesday there were 3,180 new cases of Covid, which is “the highest since April 12”, but that vaccines were working.
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