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Still 'a long, long way' until lockdown restrictions can be lifted, Matt Hancock tells Sophy Ridge on Sunday

It is still a "long, long, long way" before coronavirus cases are low enough for lockdown to be lifted, the health secretary has told Sky News.

Matt Hancock said "early evidence" shows tough restrictions around the UK are starting to bring the number of new infections down, but he warned the NHS remains under "enormous" pressure.

He also revealed "I really worry" about new COVID-19 variants not yet discovered and admitted the government is not sure whether schools in England will reopen fully by Easter.

Speaking to Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Mr Hancock said: "We should be worried enough, all of us, about this pandemic to follow the rules and it is just so important that people do.

"This morning I've come out of my formal self-isolation, I haven't actually left the house yet because I haven't needed to."

Delivering the latest vaccine news, Mr Hancock said 75% of all people aged 80 and over have now had a coronavirus first jab.

And he said the UK has given out more vaccines in the last three days than France has in total since the global race for inoculation against coronavirus began.