LONDON - Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said this was a "sensitive moment" for the UK as he defended government plans to ease lockdown restrictions, despite several scientists speaking out against the move.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme the government had been listening to the views of different scientists who did not all agree.
Raab said the country was now transitioning from level four to level three of the Covid-19 alert system. He said the easing of measures was only being taken because the government had met its five targets.
The government "wanted to avoid a re-entering of the lockdown", he said, but with the track, trace and test system a targeted approach could be taken.
"We have definitely got the ability and we will target specific settings or particular regions or geographic areas - and that gives us the confidence to take sure footed steps forward."(FA)