COVID-19: UK faces ‘tough time’ as people go on vacation to Europe due to falling jab rates, expert warns | Political news

The UK is “in a tough time” as people go on holiday to a Europe where vaccination rates are not as high as at home, an expert told Sky News.

Gabriel Scally, a member of Independent SAGE, a group of scientists who provide alternative advice to the government’s own science panel, said he was really concerned about the Indian’s risk. coronavirus variant in Europe.

He told Sky News: “There is great concern about this particular variant because of its much more transmissible characteristics and it has yet to really take off in Europe.

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“If it takes off in Europe I think we are going through a very difficult time because of course vaccination levels are not at the same level as in the UK, in much of Europe.

“And at the same time, we are reducing travel restrictions and a lot more people are disappearing on vacation and coming back without necessarily having a truly managed quarantine. And we know that self-isolation doesn’t work.

“I’m really worried about a big wave in Europe if this highly transmissible variant or another that’s coming up can take off. So a good quarantine system at our borders is absolutely essential.”

Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of The Wellcome Trust, also warned that there was “a risk” that the Indian variant could be transmitted by people traveling outside the UK.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today show: “I think travel still needs to be very careful and only when absolutely essential.”

So far, the only European destinations available to British holidaymakers other than Gibraltar are Portugal and Iceland.

But the government says it is keeping other destinations under review and Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps has said it …