Covid: Health Secretary warns England unlocking on June 21 less likely

It was meant to be the day England unlocked after months of restrictions. But now the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that ministers are considering leaving Coronavirus restrictions in place beyond June 21 – amid concern over the spread of the Delta variant, which was first identified in India. He revealed that scientific advisors have told the government that the Delta variant is 40 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha variant first detected in Kent.

Paraic O’Brien reports.