Health secretary Sajid Javid ‘cautiously optimistic’ that UK’s restrictions will ease next week

Sajid Javid is “cautiously optimistic” that Covid-19 regulations will be “substantially reduced” next week.

The health secretary's comments come as the government prepares to review its so-called Plan B measures on 26 January.

Speaking on Tuesday, Sajid Javid told the Commons: "I have always said that these restrictions should not stay in place a day longer than absolutely necessary.

"Due to these pharmaceutical defences and the likelihood that we have already reached the peak of the case numbers of hospitalisations, I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to substantially reduce restrictions next week."

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