Evidence shows that current lockdown restrictions are starting to lower infection rates but the country is still a ‘long, long, long’ way off easing measures, said the health secretary.

When pressed why current restrictions in place are not as strict as those implemented during the nation’s first lockdown, despite the emergence of highly transmissible variants, Matt Hancock said he was ‘confident’ about the rules.

He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: ‘Well there is early evidence that the lockdown is starting to bring cases down but we’re a long, long, long way from being low enough because the case rate was incredibly high and you can see the pressure on the NHS.

‘You can see it every day – the NHS are doing an amazing job under difficult circumstances.

‘I’m confident about the measures we’ve got in place.’

In further updates, Mr Hancock said three-quarters of all over-80s have now had their first dose of the vaccine.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…

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