Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that ministers are trying to provide clarity about the prospects of taking a summer holiday, despite all releasing contradictory information, and insisted people “have to be patient”.
Stressing that the uncertainty of the pandemic made it impossible to set a date when domestic or international travel may resume Mr Hancock said: “We are trying to be as absolutely clear as we can about what we do know and what we do not yet know.
“What we do not know is the timing of when we’ll be able to release measures because it’s too early to say.
“As the Prime Minister set out.. we do have to be patient. One of the challenges of a pandemic is there is this uncertainty.
“What I can tell you is that we are all working incredibly hard to try to ensure that not only can people have a holiday this summer but also that… people can go and see loved ones and we can get life more back to normal.
“This uncertainty does mean that we can’t, any of us, know exactly what the rules or the situation will be like because it depends on how effectively we can deal with this pandemic.”
Pressed on whether he was now saying people should not book a summer holiday, the Health Secretary insisted he was giving out the same message as his colleagues: “I am saying what every minister is saying which is there is uncertainty and that means we cannot make categorical assurances. But we are doing everything we can to get things back to normal.
“It is difficult. I do understand how difficult it is and I know people are yearning to have a direct answer because people look forward to their summer holidays so much.
“But even before getting to whether or not you can book your holidays there is the question of when we can see our loved ones and exit lockdown.
“These things really matter but unfortunately there is that uncertainty and we are going to have to be patient.”
