UK considering border closures, minister says

U.K. Environment Secretary George Eustice has said that the government is considering a full closure of Britain’s borders due to concerns over the spread of the mutated variants of the coronavirus.

“We always keep these things under review and [closed borders have] been considered,” he told Sky News on Friday.

“There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains [and the] risk that one day there will be a strain that might be able to evade the vaccine,” he added.

Ministers are due to discuss in a COVID-O meeting on Monday, instead of Friday afternoon as earlier planned, according to the Times.

Northern Ireland announced Thursday night it will be extending its lockdown until March 5.