Hancock said most people were adhering to social distancing instructions, but said: "Let's not have a minority spoiling it for everybody."

There has been concern that people will disregard the government's policy to enjoy a weekend of sunny weather in the U.K.

Hancock also attempted to quash the notion that the government's policy had been to build up "herd immunity" by allowing around 60 percent of the population to become infected with the virus.

The U.K.'s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said publicly in mid-March that herd immunity would indeed be "an important part of controlling this longer term."

But Hancock said Vallance had been "talking about a scientific concept" and not outlining government policy.

"When people write articles about all of this, I just want them to know that they're talking nonsense," the health secretary said.

Hancock described as "rubbish" remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that the U.K.'s earlier strategy would have "caused a lot of death."