Covid: Delta variant now accounts for 91% of new cases in the UK, Matt Hancock reveals
The Health Secretary was quizzed by MPs for over four hours on the government’s handling of the pandemic and allegations made by the Prime Minister’s former aide.
Matt Hancock has revealed that the Delta variant now compromises 91% of new coronavirus cases in the UK during questioning on the government’s handling of the pandemic.
The Health Secretary also denied lying to Boris Johnson at any point during the pandemic as he was quizzed by MPs over allegations made by the Prime Minister’s former aide.
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At a glance: 5 key points
- Mr Hancock told MPs he had “no idea” why the Prime Minister’s former aide Dominic Cummings had a dispute with him.
- He struck back at Dominic Cummings, saying that the Government “has operated better in the past six months” since the controversial aide left Downing Street.
- The Health Secretary said he has received no evidence to suggest any medics died due to a failure to provide them with personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Wales has been able to move faster on the vaccine rollout because Welsh ministers know they can draw on England’s “buffer” for second doses if required, Mr Hancock claimed.
- He said the early response to the pandemic was hampered by the lack of information coming out of China.
What’s been said
“One of the things that hindered our early response was a lack of transparency from China. That must be put right in terms of future preparedness for future pandemics.
“It is absolutely vital for the world that China is more transparent about its health information as soon it understands there are problems.”
Matt Hancock
“There is no evidence that I have seen that a shortage of PPE provision led to anyone dying of Covid. That’s from the evidence I have seen.
“What I do know though is PPE provision was tight, and it was difficult, and it was difficult throughout the world, but we did manage – it was pretty close sometimes – but we did manage to ensure that there was… at a national level we had the PPE and then distribution was a challenge to all areas.”
Matt Hancock
Background
The Health Secretary was being questioned over allegations made by the Prime Minister’s former aide, Dominic Cummings, to the Health and Social Care Committee and Science and Technology Committee.
Mr Hancock told MPs he had “no idea” why Mr Cummings had a dispute with him, but had later become aware that he had wanted him fired.
Mr Cummings criticised the Health Secretary’s performance during the pandemic, claiming he lied to colleagues and honed in on his flagship policy of aiming to carry out 100,000 Covid-19 tests a day in April 2020.
Mr Cummings branded the spring testing target “criminal, disgraceful behaviour”.
MPs were told that Mr Cummings recommended to the Prime Minister “almost every week, sometimes almost every day” that Mr Hancock should be sacked.