What we know about the Indian Covid variant amid mounting travel ban calls

UK scientists must learn information about the new “double mutant” Indian Covid variant as fast as possible, a leading epidemiologist has warned.

Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), which provides evidence on coronavirus to the government’s Sage committee, said analysis of the variant must be undertaken “as quickly as possible”

It comes as calls mount for India to be added to the UK Government’s “red list”.

So far, 77 confirmed cases of the variant have been recorded in the country, including 73 in England and four in Scotland.

Environment Secretary George Eustice defended the government’s decision not to further restrict travel to the country and said the situation is being kept “under regular review”.

Amid growing fears that the new strain could delay the government’s lockdown easing road map, Mr Eustice added that it is “too early to say” whether all hospitality businesses can open on May 17 as ministers must keep “a close eye on these variants of concern”.

‘No evidence’ variant can evade vaccine

Speaking during the morning broadcast round, Mr Eustice said there is no evidence that the Indian variant of coronavirus is able to “get around” the vaccine.

“The last I think I saw… there were around 70 cases. But I think I’ve seen lots of different numbers on different variants – you’ll appreciate, there is quite a few – so it is a fairly small number at the moment. But it is something that we are watching.

“I’m told that there is no evidence at the moment that this particular variant is able to get around the vaccine, for instance, or indeed that it is necessarily more contagious than the others,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday.

Mr Eustice also said that despite rising infection rates in India, “it is appropriate” that the Prime Minister’s planned trip to the country should go ahead later this month.

Boris Johnson is due to travel to India in the last week of April in a trip that has already been cut short as infections in the country continue to climb.

Amid rising calls for travel to and from India to be banned, Mr Eustice confirmed that if scientists recommended the move, the government would act.

Moving India on to the so-called “red list” would mean only UK nationals could return from the country and those doing so must pay to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

‘Reckless’

Labour’s shadow home secretary said new travel data showed almost 100,000 people had flown between India and the UK during January and February without requirement to quarantine in a hotel, as he accused the government of not doing enough to keep out coronavirus mutations.

Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “This British reopening is being put at risk by ministers’ reckless refusal to protect our borders against Covid.”

Probed on the matter on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the Environment Secretary said: “There are quite a lot of robust tests and checks for anybody coming into the country.