Coronavirus: Government confident epidemic has reached peak, says health secretary

But ministers warn five tests still have to be met before the UK's lockdown can be lifted

Ministers are confident coronavirus in the UK has hit “a peak”, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

But he warned a number of tests still had to be met before the government can consider lifting the lockdown.

And he ruled out giving the public free face masks, as other countries have done.

Mr Hancock said: "We have high confidence that we are at a peak in this disease, but obviously we need to see that come down.”

He added: "I just want to thank everyone from across the country for their steadfast commitment in following the rules."

"It is making a difference. We are at the peak. But before we relax any social distancing rules or make changes to them we have set out the five tests that have to be met."

Experts, including at least one of the government's own advisers, have already said that the UK has already passed the peak of the disease.

Ministers have been much more cautious, however.

Declaring that the UK has passed the peak will fuel calls for a strategy to end the lockdown.

But ministers fear that unless the public continue to socially distance from each other the UK could face multiple waves, and peaks, of the virus.

Mr Hancock also told MPs the government would follow the advice of scientists on the use of masks.

But he added: "I can't promise that we will give everybody free masks, I mean that would be an extraordinary undertaking, and we do have to make sure that we have supplies available especially for health and social care staff where the scientific advice throughout has been that the wearing of masks is necessary in those circumstances and we've got to make sure the provision is there for them."