Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile.

The decision was welcomed as payouts could help many small firms survive through the latest lockdown restrictions.

Professor Wendy Barclay has clarified that the new Brazilian coronavirus variant which prompted a ban on travel from South America is not the strain that has been detected in the UK.

She said: “The new Brazilian variant of concern, that was picked up in travellers going to Japan, has NOT been detected in the UK.

Professor Wendy Barclay, head of G2P-UK National Virology Consortium, a new project set up to study the effects of emerging coronavirus mutations, said one Brazilian variant of coronavirus has been detected in the UK.

She said: "There are two different types of Brazilian variants and one of them has been detected and one of them has not.”.

She added: “In the databases, if you search the sequences, you will see that there is some some evidence for variants from around the world, and I believe including the Brazilian one, which probably was introduced some time ago.”.

A couple have admitted breaching coronavirus lockdown rules after making a 60-mile trip to climb Ingleborough peak in the Dales National Park, which ended with them having to be rescued.

Thousands of lorry drivers headed for mainland Europe became stranded in Kent before Christmas after France imposed a 48-hour ban on entries over the new coronavirus variant?

Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium

Create a commenting name to join the debate

Create a commenting name to join the debate

Create a commenting name to join the debate

Create a commenting name to join the debate

Start your Independent Premium subscription today