Matt Hancock lays out why lockdown will not be lifted anytime soon as pressure on NHS 'remains huge'

direct to your inboxKate Garraway has challenged Matt Hancock in their first meeting since her husband became seriously ill with coronavirus. The Health Secretary appeared on Thursday's Good Morning Britain which was being hosted by Kate and Ben Shephard.

outline its plans for easing lockdown later this month. Schools will be the first to reopen from March 8 at the earliest if the data allows, ministers have said.

direct to your inbox Matt Hancock used the latest Downing Street press conference to "put to bed" a myth circulating about the coronavirus vaccine.

coronavirus pandemic. Number 10 said Mr Hancock, who came out of self-isolation at the weekend after being contacted by Track and Trace, will lead the press conference.It is not clear yet who will join him on the podiums.

coronavirus cases being low enough to ease restrictions. In an interview this morning with Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News, he said: "There is early evidence that the lockdown is starting to bring cases down."But we are a long, long, long way from that being low enough because the case rate was incredibly high."You can see the pressure on the NHS you can see it every day.

direct to your inbox Matt Hancock told MPs that there are 'early indications' the coronavirus vaccine works on the new variants of the virus, Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, the Health Secretary said that there are signs the Covid-19 vaccine deals with newer variants in the same way that it does the older variant of the virus.It comes after fears the variant, dubbed B.1.1.7, has mutations that may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines designed to protect against the

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direct to your inboxMatt Hancock has been challenged on Good Morning Britain on whether teachers could be 'bumped up' the priority vaccine list.The governments aim is to have offered the top four priority groups - including the clinically extremely vulnerable and care home residents - either the Pfizer or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine by mid-February.

direct to your inboxMatt Hancock was left unable to answer Piers Morgan after being accused of being 'shamed' into offering free schools meals by Marcus Rashford. The health secretary appeared on Good Morning Britain to be quizzed by Piers and Susanna Reid on the vaccine roll-out.

direct to your inbox Hospital patients could soon be discharged into hotels to free up beds for those suffering with coronavirus under new plans being considered by the government. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the NHS is looking at plans to move some patients into hotels to ease the mounting pressure on hospitals.

SEE: Boris Johnson's private home unveiled - and it's not No 10 Downing StreetWATCH: Matt Hancock reveals huge portrait of the QueenWhen Matt appeared on This Morning via video link, he unveiled a home office area, featuring cream walls and a large house plant and side table behind him. The most surprising feature, though, was an enormous blue and pink circular portrait of the Queen hanging on the wall.