Gavin Williamson tonight dismissed calls to spell out an 'exit strategy' from coronavirus lockdown - despite claims ministers want schools to reopen after May 11.
The Education Secretary defied a growing clamour for clarity, insisting he could not 'give a date' for pupils to get back to the classroom.
The comments came amid the first signs a blueprint is being hatched within government to ease lockdown misery, although the Cabinet appears split over whether to risk more deaths from the disease to save the plunging economy.
Mr Williamson told the daily Downing Street briefing he was sorry that children were having to suffer through the crisis and have their education interrupted. But he said the UK had not yet met five tests - including NHS capacity being high enough, widespread testing being in place, and the threat of a second peak reduced.
'I can't give you a date. Because before we do that we need to meet five tests,' he said.
The fledgling plan would see the country get back up in running in stages after May 11, with primary, GCSE pupils, and nurseries potentially going back part-time.
Meanwhile, clothes shops and garden centres could be among the 'non-essential' stores given a 'green light' to reopen with precautions to protect customers. Rail services would be brought up to normal levels, with commuters probably urged to wear facemasks, and the NHS would resume carrying out non-urgent procedures.
A second 'amber' stage later in the summer would see more of the economy revived, with all employees told to go back to work and some social gatherings allowed. However, it might not be until later in the year that pubs and restaurants can reopen and sporting events get up and running. And over-70s face a 'red light' for many months more, potentially having to wait for a vaccine before going back to normal life.
The proposals are gaining traction amid a mounting backlash at the lack of a clear plan - and as another 596 UK coronavirus deaths were announced, with the grim tally marking the lowest daily rise for two weeks. The overall number of fatalities now stands at 16,060, and cases were up by 5,850 to 120,067.
On another frantic day with tensions rising in the coronavirus battle:
- A further 596 coronavirus deaths have been announced in the UK, marking the lowest daily rise for two weeks. The increase drags the overall number of fatalities up to 16,060 as cases also soared by 5,850 to 120,067;
- The government was accused by Labour of 'treating the public like children' by refusing to spell out how the exit strategy from lockdown might look, with leader Keir Starmer demanding a 'road map' out of the crisis;
- Michael Gove has defended Boris Johnson for skipping five Cobra crisis meetings in the weeks leading up to Britain's outbreak - but admitted the UK did send a shipment of desperately-needed personal protective gear to China. He stressed the Asian superpower had since sent back far more than it received;
- OECD chief Angel Gurria warned there will have to be 'stop-go' arrangements in place for 'social distancing' for a long time to come, urging governments to 'err on the side of caution' to avoid the worst possible outcomes for economies;
- The Irish health minister has suggested pubs might not be able to open until there is a coronavirus vaccine, which some believe will take more than a year;
- Infectious diseases expert Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the government's own SAGE advisory group, has cautioned that the lockdown 'cannot go on much longer' as it is 'damaging all our lives' and could start to be eased within three or four weeks. Sir Jeremy suggested the UK was past the first peak, but warned of a 'rebound' if social distancing stops too abruptly;
- A consignment of PPE, including desperately-needed gowns, that Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick boasted would arrive today from Turkey has been been delayed;
- The chairman of the British Medical Association council said it had warned the government 'weeks ago' about the risk of personal protective equipment shortages but hit a 'brick wall';
- One of the scientists leading efforts to make the breakthrough warned it is not 'completely certain' that a coronavirus vaccine can be produced, with Mr Gove admitting no-one should see it as a 'dead cert';
Senior ministers are divided between those who want to 'run hot', using apparent spare capacity in the NHS to relax social distancing soon, and those who fear acting too early will allow the disease to run rampant, according to the Sunday Times.
After concerns about drift at the heart of power, Boris Johnson is gearing up to take back the reins of government, making calls to ministers from Chequers where he is recuperating from his own health scare with the disease.
Cabinet minister MIchael Gove tried to dampen down frenzied speculation over loosening of restrictions this morning, saying while it was 'entirely understandable' people want to know the way out it was too early to make such decisions.
Asked if the 'traffic light' system was the government's 'exit strategy', Mr Gove told Sky News: 'No it's not. It is the case that we are looking at all the evidence. But we have set some tests that must be passed before we can even think about easing the lockdown.'
Although he stressed no decisions had been taken, Mr Gove did hint at the shape of an easing, suggesting pubs and other parts of the hospitality industry will be 'among the last' to come back.
Anger has been rising at the sense of drift in government with the PM recuperating at Chequers.
It emerged on Friday that Cabinet has asked scientists and medical experts to present options for lifting the lockdown in a fortnight's time - suggesting there will be no formal plan unveiled before then.
But some senior Tories, along with Labour leader Keir Starmer, have been demanding quicker decisions amid mounting accusations that handling of the pandemic has been bungled. Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth today accused ministers of 'treating people like children' by refusing to set out options.
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