THE new Health Secretary has revealed his position on the easing of all remaining lockdown restrictions ahead of a statement on it later today.

Sajid Javid, who replaced Matt Hancock at the weekend, made the comments as cases across the country continue to surge.

It follows on from the delay to the fourth and final step of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown, which last month saw the June 21 easing of rules cancelled.

Mr Javid has since been urged to be the "voice of the Cabinet" and push for a further delay to the lifting of rules. 

During a visit to St Thomas' Hospital in London as Health Secretary today, Mr Javid said lifting restrictions as soon as possible is his "absolute priority," while suggesting the Government could take a more cautious approach.

Currently, the easing of all lockdown restrictions could take place on July 19, at the earliest, depending on Covid case numbers and emerging variants.

But Mr Javid suggested that whatever move is made the decision will be "irreversible," as he hinted further details would be set out in a speech later today.

He said: “I want to see the restrictions lifted and life going back to normal as quickly as possible.

“Right here and now that is my absolute priority. I want to see those restrictions lifted as soon as we can, as quickly as possible.

“In terms of the road map to that you’ll have to wait for my statement to Parliament later today.

“It’s going to be irreversible, there’s no going back. That’s why we want to be careful during that process.”

Latest figures for the country show the North East currently has the nation's second-highest Covid case rates with 210.6 cases per 100,000 people.

The figures, which are from the last seven days, are only beaten by the North West where cases there are 265.6 per 100,000. 

Earlier today, Sajid Javid was urged by health bosses to be the “voice of caution” in the Cabinet, as a scientist advising the Government warned it would be a “definite mistake” to bring forward the lifting of restrictions.

NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor told the BBC: “Covid is the most pressing issue, the number of cases in hospital are rising.

“Covid is an issue and he needs to be a voice of caution in the Cabinet in terms of the potential pressures in the health service.”

Meanwhile Professor Peter Openshaw, a member of the Nervtag from Imperial College London, said it would be a “definite mistake” to bring the easing of restrictions forward from July 19.

He told Sky News: “He may have different attitudes, but I do hope that he will follow his predecessor and take a very cautious approach, because we must get the vaccination rates up before we ease the restrictions.”

Asked if the July 19 date could be brought forward, Prof Openshaw said: “I think it would be a mistake. We are very fortunate to have had this four-week delay which allows vaccination rates to get really high and for us to gather a lot more data about just how the Delta agent is spreading.

“And I think bringing the date forward would be a definite mistake.

“I do hope that that date, which of course was said to be the earliest date, is a provisional date and it could even be delayed. I do hope we will we will not be accelerating that easement.”

The fourth and final step of the easing of restrictions will see all nightclubs allowed to reopen, all remaining limits on large gatherings and sports removed and all remaining limits on social contact scrapped. 

Downing Street has previously told The Northern Echo that the use of face coverings will likely be reviewed separately to any restrictions that are currently in place. 

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