By Tony O’Riley
Boris Johnson has cast doubt on the final road map stage of the lifting of Covid restrictions in the UK next month.
The prime minister stated that “we may need to wait” for the lifting of all Covid restrictions in England, which is currently planned for 21 June.
The PM said he saw nothing “currently in the data” to suggest the government would have to delay unlocking.
He said there were signs of an increase in the number of cases of the Indian variant.
It comes after epidemiologist Prof Neil Ferguson said the reopening of society is now “in the balance”.
On Thursday, a further 3,542 coronavirus cases and 10 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported in the UK.
Under normal circumstances, the final stage-step four- would see all legal limits on social contact removed, nightclubs would reopen, and restrictions on large events and performances would be lifted.
Scientists advising the government are currently studying all relevant data since the last set of lockdown relaxations on 17 May.
Speaking on a visit to a hospital this morning, Mr Johnson said: “I think the question people want to answer is to what extent is our vaccine shield now going to be enough to allow us to go ahead with 21 June with the unlocking.
“Now, as I’ve said many times, I don’t see anything currently in the data to suggest we have to deviate from the roadmap but we may need to wait.”
The prime minister said it was important to understand to what extent the vaccine programme “interrupts the link” between infection, hospitalisation, serious illness and death.
However, he stressed that vaccines in use in the UK work against the Indian variant, particularly with two doses.
Covid cases have reportedly been in excess of 3,000, consistent with Government scientists had always made clear that infection levels would increase as restrictions ease.