Nothing In Data To Prevent Easing Lockdown In The UK: PM Boris Johnson

"I can see nothing in the data at the moment that means we can't go ahead with step four of the opening on 21 June," said Boris Johnson.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday raised the prospect of the UK proceeding with its planned roadmap to end lockdown restrictions from June 21 as he said that there is nothing in data to suggest that a delay would be necessary. Speaking at 10 Downing Street, he struck a note of caution as there are clear signs the there is a rise in infection rates from the so-called Delta variant of COVID-19 a highly transmissible mutation first identified in India and behind what some scientists fear may be the early signs of a third wave of the pandemic in the UK. "I can see nothing in the data at the moment that means we can't go ahead with step four of the opening on 21 June," said Johnson. But we've got to be so cautious because there's no question the ONS [Office for National Statistics] data of infection rates is showing an increase. We always knew that was going to happen. Don't forget we always said the unlocking steps that we've taken would lead to increases in infection, he said.