UK Health Secretary unable to say if England’s pubs will be open this weekend

People outside the Coach and Horses pub in Wellington Street, London (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Matt Hancock did not rule out England’s pubs being closed this weekend as UK ministers prepare extra measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The British Health Secretary said on Monday that the Government had not yet taken the “final decisions” on what response was necessary, but said the changes would be announced in the “very, very near future”.