A total of 2,323 cases of the Indian coronavirus variant have been reported in the UK, the health secretary has said.
Mr Hancock told Sky News at the weekendthat the current COVID vaccines will protect against the Indian variant, but it could"spread like wildfire" among those who have not had a jab.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News earlier it is still"very likely" that step four will proceed as scheduled. The PM's spokesman has said the government is not yet in a position to make a definitive decision on whether the easing of restrictions will happen on 21 June. And Downing Street said announcements on the future of social distancing, guidance on weddings and plans for domestic coronavirus"passports" could be delayed by the Indian variant.