Grant Shapps 'not aware' Brazilian coronavirus strain in UK

Transport secretary Grant Shapps during a media briefing in Downing Street on coronavirus (COVID-19) - Credit: PA

The transport secretary has been criticised after claiming he was “not aware” the Brazilian strain of coronavirus was in the UK – despite scientists going public about two cases hours later.

Shapps described a ban on travel from South America, which includes an exemption for British and Irish nationals, as a “precautionary” measure to ensure the vaccination programme rolling out across the UK was not disrupted by new variants of the virus.

Asked if the Brazilian strain was currently in the country, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Not as far as we are aware, I think, at this stage.

“There haven’t been any flights that I can see from the last week from Brazil, for example.”

But a leading virologist has said one of the two variants has been detected in the UK.

Professor Wendy Barclay, who is advising the government’s Covid-19 response, said the variant may have been “introduced some time ago”.

She explained this was not the mutation of concern that had been picked up in travellers going to Japan.

But she later clarified: “The new Brazilian variant of concern, that was picked up in travellers going to Japan, has not been detected in the UK.

“Other variants that may have originated from Brazil have been previously found.”

Shapps’ comments just two hours before it became public knowledge was criticised.

9am: "The Brazil variant is not in the UK as far as we're aware…" – Grant Shapps

11am: "Um, yes it is…" – leading virologist#ToryIncompetence #ToryShambles #COVID19 #coronavirus #BrazilVariant

— Brendan May (@bmay) January 15, 2021

Prof Wendy Barclay has said one Brazilian variant of coronavirus had been detected in the UK.

But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said this morning he was "not aware" of any cases of the Brazilian coronavirus variant in the UK.

So which one are we to believe? What a s**t show!

— Vialli's Chelsea FC (@VialliChelseaFC) January 15, 2021

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, earlier this morning:

"Brazil variant is not in the UK as far as we are aware"

Leading virologist, 11:20am:

"Bazil variant already in the UK"

…..

— Jamie Bell (@thepapabell) January 15, 2021