Boris Johnson is facing growing calls from his top scientists to insulate Britain from worrying Covid variants by strengthening border controls.
England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty and his deputy Prof Jonathan Van-Tam are said to be pushing for the red list of high-risk countries to be expanded.
France is of particular concern because it has a large presence of mutant strains but the majority of people crossing the Channel, such as lorry drivers, are exempt from quarantine.
Government scientists have reportedly told ministers that South African and Brazilian variants make up 40 per cent of infections in several French regions.
These variants are driving a third wave across Europe and causing leaders to plunge populations back into harsher lockdowns.
While scientists are confident these mutations will still be somewhat susceptible to vaccine, they could be more resistant and also drive up cases.
Priti Patel this morning did not rule out tightening measures at the border, including keeping controls in place over the summer in a fresh blow for foreign holidays.
Some increasingly view forfeiting summer holidays as a sacrifice to plough ahead with the roadmap to lifting lockdown.
Boris Johnson is facing growing calls from his top scientists to insulate Britain from emerging variants by strengthening border controls (Heathrow pictured)
Priti Patel this morning did not rule out tightening measures at the border, including keeping controls in place over the summer in a fresh blow for foreign holidays (Ibiza pictured)
The Home Secretary said: ‘We rule nothing out in terms of the approach we take when it comes to infection control and the safety and security of our public from this virus.’
Her comments came after Prof Van-Tam held a briefing with MPs last night about the pandemic.
An MP on the call told The Times: ‘Anyone on that call would understand that he thinks the red list needs expanding.’
They added that France was the main cause for concern, but Germany was also setting alarm bells ringing.
The red list – currently numbering 35 countries – is a travel ban except for British nationals who must undergo 10 days mandatory isolation in a hotel.
Arrivals from non red-list countries, such as France, are also required to quarantine but can do so from home. However, around 68 per cent of French arrivals are hauliers who are exempt.
Tory MPs are also concerned the border is too permeable, with one backbencher telling MailOnline measures should be toughened to prevent infection spreading.
The Home Secretary said: ‘We rule nothing out in terms of the approach we take when it comes to infection control and the safety and security of our public from this virus’
England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty (pictured) and his deputy Prof Jonathan Van-Tam are said to be pushing for the red list of high-risk countries to be expanded
This morning Ms Patel said: ‘It’s not for me to speculate what will happen in the summer.
‘We have a roadmap, we have a plan and we are sticking to that plan and rightly so, because we want to ensure that we safeguard the rollout of the vaccine programme.
‘As I’ve said the advice right now is not to travel, and we have to see how other variants are developing.
‘We will take all measures basically to protect our country and our citizens from new variants.’
She also told The Sun: ‘Of course I haven’t booked a summer holiday’ told Britons to hold off making plans just yet.
Holidaymakers were dismayed yesterday when airlines including BA and easyJet scrapped more flights this summer.
The Government will publish a review into the viability of international travel next month, but last night the Prime Minister appeared doubtful of summer holidays.
He told the No10 press briefing: ‘We’ve heard already that there are other European countries where the disease is now rising so things certainly look difficult for the time being.’
Just over 10 per cent of adults have received their first vaccine dose across the EU, compared to the UK’s figure exceeding 53 per cent.
The rapid build of infections on the Continent has spurred leaders to reimpose strict lockdown.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that all non-essential shops will be closed over the Easter period with church services moved online and public gatherings banned as infections rise ‘exponentially’.
France’s hospital federation chief warned that case figures are ‘exploding’ and the health system is heading for an ‘unprecedented violent shock’ in about three weeks unless strong action is taken.
Prime Minister Jean Castex imposed tough measures on 16 French regions including the cities of Paris, Lille and Nice last week.
And in Spain, experts have begun warning of a fourth wave of Covid after deaths from the virus rose to 633 on Monday compared to 298 a week ago.
From Monday people in England caught travelling overseas without an acceptable excuse, such as essential work, face a £5,000 fine.
Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modelling prompted the first national lockdown a year ago today, urged Britons to book holidays in the UK.
He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One yesterday: ‘I certainly am in favour of relaxing border measures at a slower rate than we relax controls within the country and doing all we can to reduce the risk of importation of variants, which might undermine our vaccination programme.
‘I think we should be planning on summer holidays in the UK, not overseas.’