Danger signs

» Indian variant in UK is highly transmissible » Fears over lifting of the final lockdown curbs

This brings into sharp focus Johnson’s reckless failure to protect our borders in a crisis

those who came from India at the time “faced tough quarantine rules”.

Experts on the

Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation urged those in the highest risk groups not yet vaccinated to come forward and get a jab. Its Covid-19 chairman Professor Wei Shen Lim said: “Where vaccine supply allows, particularly in areas where B1.617.2 is a threat, the second dose of vaccine should be brought forward from 12 to eight weeks.”

Prof Whitty said experts expected the Indian variant could come to dominate in the UK.

“The capacity of vaccination centres should be maximised to enable rapid rollout.” SAGE said there was a realistic possibility the variant could be “50% more transmissible” than the Kent one. And Prof Whitty warned if that is the case, the UK could have “a really significant surge”. He said he feared it may have already spread more widely beyond hotspots such as Bolton.

The town has the highest infection rate in the UK, with case numbers racing towards 200 per 100,000.

In Formby, Merseyside, surge testing has started in a bid to find and isolate the new variant.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy has led calls to expand the jabs programme in high Indian Covid areas. Regional leaders urged against local lockdowns. Bolton council leader David Greenhalgh said:

“Most cases are in their teens, 20s and 30s Send us more jabs and allow us to vaccinate 18 years-plus now. That is the answer, not further restrictions.”

Another 17 Covid deaths were recorded yesterday, bringing the UK total to 127,668.

JONATHAN ASHWORTH SHADOW HEALTH SECRETARY ON PM

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