UK's Johnson summons ministers over new Covid-19 variant: The Telegraph

[LONDON] British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called senior ministers to an unscheduled meeting on Friday evening to discuss how to contain a new, more virulent variant of the coronavirus, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

An emergency toughening of Covid-19 restrictions could be announced as soon as Saturday, possibly including restrictions on travel between the south-east of England, including London, and the rest of the country, the newspaper said.

A spokesperson for the prime minister said he was unable to comment on the report immediately.

Britain's government on Monday said a rise in new infections might be partly linked to the new variant as it moved its capital city and other areas into the highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions.

The Telegraph also reported on Friday that government officials expected the AstraZeneca-Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine would clear regulatory approval on Dec 28 or 29, helping to accelerate the vaccination campaign.

Mr Johnson said on Friday he hoped that England would not need to go into a third lockdown after Christmas.

REUTERS