COVID-19: Full UK border closure 'considered' by government, says Environment Secretary George Eustice

The government has 'considered' the full closure of the UK's borders amid concerns about new COVID variants being imported from abroad, a cabinet minister has revealed

The government has 'considered' the full closure of the UK's borders amid concerns about new COVID variants being imported from abroad, a cabinet minister has revealed.

"There is concern at the moment at number of mutant strains that there are - different strains of this coronavirus are cropping up in other countries."There are concerns that there is a risk that one day there will be a strain that might be able to evade the vaccine.

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"That's why last week the prime minister toughened up the current restrictions."We require a test before people travel and then they must quarantine while they're here."There are now no exemptions from that policy, so we've already toughened it up - we think that's the right approach for now but, obviously, everything is always kept under review."

Mr Eustice added:"Personally I wouldn't like to see all borders closed, I'd like us to get past this pandemic and get the vaccine rolled out and be able to start opening things again rather than closing things. Read more: Sky News »