Britain is close to 'living with Covid' as pressure on NHS and public services diminishes
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• PM expected to face questions over No 10 garden parties
• Cases approaching peak in all parts of England, data show
• Nick Timothy: Ministers must lead the charge back to normality
Britain is close to living with Covid, Michael Gove has said, as he confirmed that "pressure on the NHS and on vital public services is abating".
Speaking on Sky News, the Housing Secretary said: “We are moving to a situation - we’re not there yet - but we are moving to a situation where it is possible to say that we can live with Covid and that the pressure on the NHS and on vital public services is abating.
"But it is absolutely vital that we are not there yet. As the Health Secretary has said, there will be some difficult weeks ahead.”
Asked about reports that the Chancellor, among others, wants to see the self-isolation period reduced from seven days to five, Mr Gove said: "We always keep these things under review, and the most important thing I think is to ensure that we are in a position to protect the NHS and to protect public services."
Mr Gove added that the UK has "one of the most open regimes, one of the most liberal approaches" to Covid-19.
It comes as the Prime Minister's official spokesman said it is "too early to say" when the pandemic will move to being endemic, with "early signs" that cases and hospital admissions in England are starting to fall.
