A health minister today defended the timing of Britain shutting its borders with India, as the Government came under fire for inexplicable delays in reacting to the spread of the deadly variant abroad.
Labour has piled pressure on No10 for keeping India off the red list until late April, some two weeks after neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh were added.
Critics branded the delay reckless, misguided and dangerous with 122 cases of the rapidly-spreading variant already entering the UK by the time restrictions around travel to and from India were finally enforced.
Some have previously suggested that the Prime Minister was keen to keep relations strong with India, having planned a visit - which subsequently had to be cancelled - as part of efforts to negotiate a post-Brexit trade deal.
Many Vietnamese people seem to have a false sense of security, which needs to be removed so new Covid-19 outbreaks don t get out of hand, experts say. - VnExpress International
Indian variant could trigger third coronavirus wave across the UK, experts fear
Experts have warned that the so-called Indian variant could be 50% more transmissible than the Kent variant, which swept the UK over Christmas.
19:16, 15 MAY 2021
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Door-to-door Covid hit squads are heading to Bolton and Blackburn, where the strain is at its most virulent, to focus on areas with the greatest vaccine hesitancy .
Experts warn vaccines are almost certainly less effective at reducing transmission of Indian variant while BMA urges utmost caution with easing of lockdown as Boris sends Army into Covid hotspots amid warnings of 1,000 deaths a day by summer
PM announced last night that Britain will press ahead with plans for indoor drinking and dining from Monday
But government scientists revealed that variant could realistically be 50% more infectious than Kent strain
Prime Minister has pledged to throw everything we have at this task and is set to send the Army into hotspots
JCVI s Dr Anthony Harnden said Britain s vaccine rollout may not stop the virus infecting the vulnerable