Matt Hancock has updated the nation about the coronavirus situation during a Downing Street press conference, in which he said that up to three-quarters of new coronavirus cases were the Indian variant.

Data shows that confirmed cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 have doubled in a week to reach almost 7,000, although hospital admissions remain flat.

The Health Secretary stressed that the vaccines were having an effect on keeping people out of hospital.

He said: "The latest estimates are that more than half and potentially as many as three-quarters of all new cases are now of this variant.

"As we set out our road map we always expected cases to rise, we must remain vigilant."

Read the full story here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-covid-india-variant-uk-vaccine-local-lockdown/

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