Extra measures are being put in place to prevent a Brazilian coronavirus variant entering the UK, Boris Johnson has insisted.
Speaking to the Liaison Committee today (January 13), the Prime Minister said the Government is 'concerned' about the South American strain.
He said: “We are concerned about the new Brazilian variant... We already have tough measures… to protect this country from new infections coming in from abroad.
“We are taking steps to do that in respect of the Brazilian variant.”
Home Affairs Committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper subjected the Prime Minister to intense questioning over border measures saying the nation could have “stronger quarantine and stronger checks like very many other countries do”.
She said: “We were warned about the Brazil variant three days ago, we don’t know yet whether that will potentially undermine the vaccination programme so why aren’t you taking immediate action on a precautionary basis?” she asked.
Mr Johnson replied: “Well we are and we’re putting in extra measures to ensure that people coming from Brazil are checked and indeed stopping people coming from Brazil.”
Ms Cooper asked: “Are you, that’s a new announcement?”
“No sorry I said what we were looking at was the question of whether or not the Brazilian variant is immune resistant,” he said.
Pressed on whether this means a new travel ban being imposed on Brazil, he said: “We are taking steps to ensure that we do not see the import of this new variant from Brazil.”
Ms Cooper repeatedly pressed on what those steps exactly are, to which Mr Johnson cited the incoming plans for negative tests before departure being needed.
