RISHI Sunak is willing to accept a delay of up to four weeks to the final stage of England’s reopening roadmap.

A final decision on whether the Government will extend restrictions beyond June 21 is set to be announced by the Prime Minister on Monday.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday there was a 'challenging decision' to be made over the further lifting of Covid restrictions.

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Mr Hancock also announced that a 'strengthened package of support' will be provided for Greater Manchester and Lancashire, similar to that seen in Bolton, where case numbers remain high.

It means 5.7 million people are now under what mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham stressed was 'not a lockdown' but 'advice'.

As part of Government recommendations, people in areas affected by a rise in the variant first identified in India, are being urged to meet outside rather than inside where possible, keep up social distancing and minimise travel in and out of affected regions.

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The help on offer includes military support with testing and supervised in-school testing, and greater communication with disadvantaged groups will be available.

Local directors of public health will also be able to reintroduce face coverings in communal areas in schools if they want to.

But Mr Burnham called on the Government to go further, and urged ministers to release vaccine supplies earlier than planned.