DOWNING Street would not rule out the possibility of the lockdown continuing into the summer after Boris Johnson said it was “too early to say” when measures would be eased.

Ministers hope it will be the last national lockdown required during the pandemic.

Asked directly whether he could rule out the lockdown lasting into the summer, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We will continue to keep all of the scientific evidence and data under review.

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“It remains our position that we want to ease restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so, but in order for us to do that we need to see the transmission rates of the virus come down and we need to see the pressure on the NHS reduce.”

Boris Johnson warned that the new coronavirus strain is “much more contagious”.

The Prime Minister told reporters: “I think it’s too early to say when we’ll be able to lift some of the restrictions.

“We’ll look then (February 15) at how we’re doing but I think what we’re seeing in the ONS data, in the React survey, we’re seeing the contagiousness of the new variant that we saw arrive just before Christmas – there’s no doubt it does spread very fast indeed.

“It’s not more deadly but it is much more contagious and the numbers are very great.”

He said it is “absolutely crucial” to obey the current restrictions “in what is unquestionably going to be a tough few weeks ahead”.