On Wednesday Prime Minster Boris Johnson was quizzed by Jeremy Hunt at the Liaison Committee and was asked over the new mutant coronavirus strain which is in Brazil.
On Tuesday, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) warned that the new Brazilian strain of the virus has already reached Japan.
Johnson told the committee that, “We are concerned about the new Brazilian variant.
“We already have tough measures as you know to protect this country from new infections coming from abroad.
“We’re taking steps to do that in respect of the Brazilian variant.”
He remained concerned over the new strain of the virus and raised concerns if it will be resistant to the vaccines which are being rolled out across the UK.
He added, “I think it’s fair to say there are lots of questions we still have about that variant and we don’t know for instance any more than we know from whether the South African variant is vaccine resistant.”
Addressing MPs on Wednesday, Johnson warned that he refuses to rules out even tougher measures, despite the restrictions are “starting to show signs of some effect.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that is obvious that more restrictions are needed, and Johnson responded with the measures are “kept under constant review.”
On Monday it was reported that the government are considering to tighten up restrictions which could lead to people only being allowed to leave home once a week.
Professor Peter Horby, chairman of NERVTAG, warned that that we are “now we’re in a situation where everything that was risky in the past is now more risky so we are going to have to be very, very strict about the measures.
“Whether the current restrictions are enough, I think it remains to be seen.
“It will be a week or two before it becomes clear.
“They may be sufficient but we have to be very vigilant and if there’s any sign that they’re not, then we’re going to have to be even stricter I’m afraid.”
Leave a Comment