Scientist calls for curbs on UK arrivals to halt South African Covid variant

Sage professor urges significant reduction' but says closing borders impractical

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One of the UK government's scientific advisers has said there must be a significant reduction" in people coming into the country to combat the South African coronavirus variant, but closing borders completely was impractical.

Prof Calum Semple, who sits on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), was speaking after Downing Street denied Boris Johnson had been told by Sage scientists two weeks ago to halt all travel or enforce mandatory hotel quarantines on arrivals from all countries to stop new variants.