He admitted Covid-19 cases would rise as temperatures cooled and people spent more time indoors again. Sir Patrick spoke as Tory ministers voiced fears that England could see Covid restrictions until Spring 2022. The minister told the Sunday Telegraph: “I am very worried the people who want to keep us shut down now want to keep us shut down permanently and are aiming for 'zero Covid'. "Once you start delaying to the spring, you're making this type of control of people's lives semi-permanent." But he said the “science advice is ongoing and the Prime Minister and ministers will make their decision on that”.

Source: Daily Mirror June 13, 2021 07:44 UTC