Government ‘won’t rule anything out’ amid reports of two-week delay to 21 June lockdown lifting

In England, George Eustice has insisted the government will not “rule anything out” amid reports there could be a two-week delay to the planned easing of all Covid restrictions on 21 June. The cabinet minister’s remarks came after chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, gave a “downbeat” assessment of the current state of the pandemic, including transmission rates and concerns about the new Delta variant, according to The Times. On Monday, the UK recorded over 5,600 cases – well up from the recent low of around 1,350 infections a day at the start of May. During the briefing, the experts were said to have expressed reservations about the current timetable for lifting restrictions.