Surprise travel warning for Indian variant hotspots sparks confusion

The government has come under fire for urging against all but essential travel in and out of the eight areas of England worst affected by the Indian variant of coronavirus – without an official announcement.

The updated guidance says that, wherever possible, people should avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is for “essential” reasons like work or education.

It also says that people in the eight variant hotspots should “meet outside rather than inside where possible” and keep two metres apart from people they don’t live with, including family and friends.

The change to the guidance in Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Burnley, Kirklees, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside appears to have been made on Friday without an official announcement, prompting criticism from MPs and local authorities.

Layla Moran, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, said updating the guidance without a proper announcement “is a recipe for confusion and uncertainty”. 

Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South East and shadow international development minister, said she had not been informed and was “gobsmacked” by the updated guidance, which she blamed on the Government’s “incompetence”.

“They’re making such an important announcement and they don’t even have the decency to tell us or tell our constituents,” she said, adding that it was “not clear” whether “this is advisory or legally obligatory”.

Covid cases have surged in Bolton, where 451 overall cases per 100,000 people were recorded in the week to 20 May – the highest in England. The spike in cases is thought to largely be down to the Indian variant, known as B.1.617.2.

Professor Dominic Harrison, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen, tweeted: “Local government areas involved were not consulted with, warned of, notified about, or alerted to this guidance. I have asked to see the national risk assessment which supports this action – it has not been provided to us yet.”

Therese Coffey, Work and pensions secretary, said she was “surprised” to hear that MPs in areas impacted by the new guidance did not feel properly informed, insisting that the government was in “regular contact” with the councils and communities.

Challenged by Sky News over what the guidance to “meet outside rather than inside where possible” means for pubs and restaurants in the eight areas affected, she said she didn’t believe the government had changed any specific rules when it came to hospitality.

She said: “I’m confident that our excellent hospitality industry will be taking a careful approach particularly in those communities because they want to make sure that we carry along the roadmap to recovery.”

Pressed on whether residents in the eight areas affected should meet up indoors in a restaurant, she said: “The guidance is clear, do you really need to go inside to meet other people. Of course, there will be situations where people do feel that is necessary.”