UK health minister to speak on COVID measures as new variant spreads

People walk at Oxford Street, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in London, Britain December 23, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock will speak on Wednesday about what further action the government needs to take to tackle the novel coronavirus after a new variant of the virus swept across the country.

Hancock will speak at 1500 GMT.

"Ministers have met today to assess what further action may be needed to address the rise in cases driven by the new variant," a health official said.

People walk at Oxford Street, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in London, Britain December 23, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; writing by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Michael Holden)

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock gestures as he speaks during a news conference at 10 Downing Street, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain December 10, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/Pool