Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Hancock tries to calm holiday confusion

(Photo by TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The government is sounding increasingly upbeat about the prospect of sticking to the roadmap. At this evening’s coronavirus press briefing, professor Jonathan Van-Tam said the Indian variant was probably no higher than 50 per cent more transmissible than the Kent strain, at least according to initial assessments. Meanwhile, Dr Jenny Harries said there was currently no evidence to suggest that the variant was driving up hospital numbers. But Matt Hancock was keen to remind viewers that 14 June is when the final decision will be taken on whether to stick to 21 June as the unlocking date.

The Health Secretary also had to deal with the ongoing confusion over the amber list. He had come armed with examples of those who had said the correct thing about travelling on holiday so that he could insist when asked that ministers had been ‘crystal clear’ on the subject.

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