London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

Boris warns UK must be 'very wary of potential for third wave'

Boris warns UK must be 'very wary of potential for third wave'

The UK must be ‘very wary of the potential for a third wave’ of coronavirus, Boris Johnson has warned.


The PM defended current measures at the border amid the rise in cases in Europe but said he would not rule out further restrictions.

‘We must be very wary of the potential of a third wave,’ he told a Downing Street press conference.

‘Sadly we are seeing on the continent distinct signs of a third wave and they are taking steps to deal with that.

‘We in the UK have very tough measures at our borders already, including tests, passenger locator forms, £2,000 fines, quarantines etc.

‘In so far as it’s necessary to take extra measures to protect this country against new variants, variants of concern, of course we’re going to do that.’

The Prime Minister was responding to a question from a member of the public, Shelia from Edinburgh, who asked how the UK is going to deal with the third wave in Europe.

Although cases are falling, the UK is still at risk of a third wave


Addressing her suggestion of hotel quarantine for everyone and tests for lorry drivers entering the UK, the PM stressed he wouldn’t rule out further measures.

‘We keep all these measures under review,’ he said.

Scientists have warned the UK is ‘not out of the woods yet’ and could face another surge ‘within weeks’ despite the vaccine rollout.

Government advisers said they were worried about the rise in cases in countries like France and Italy, with one unnamed official telling The Times: ‘It’s a fact that when waves one and two hit Europe they hit us afterwards.’

Earlier, a health minister suggested the UK could put all of its European neighbours on the travel red list, meaning mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival.

Boris Johnson holds a conference on the day of reflection to mark the anniversary of the first lockdown


Tory frontbencher Lord Bethell raised the possibility of the ban being extended to the continent, including France and Germany, as he accused them of ‘rejecting’ vaccinations.

More than 50% of adults have now received a first dose of a Covid jab in the UK, compared to just 10% in the EU.

Under new regulations coming into force next Monday, Brits face a £5,000 fine for attempting to leave the country without a reasonable excuse.

Mr Johnson said it was ‘too early to say’ if foreign travel would be allowed this summer.

‘My advice for everybody is to wait for the global travel task force to report,’ he said.

‘We hope to be able to say more in a few days’ time, certainly by April 5.’

The press conference comes as the nation marks the year anniversary of the first lockdown.

The PM admitted there are things he wishes he’d have done differently when asked how he would explain to future generations why the UK has one of the world’s highest death tolls.

However, he did not commit to any kind of inquiry into the handling of the crisis, saying that it is ‘premature’ to make comparisons about how Britain fared compared to other countries.

Boris Johnson says foreign travel options in summer 'look difficult'



The PM praised the frontline heroes of the pandemic and said the nation is ‘step by step, jab by jab’ on the path to ‘reclaiming our freedoms’.

But England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty struck a more cautious tone, warning there would be ‘bumps and twists on the road’, possibly including the emergence of new variants and shortages in vaccine supplies.

He said the chances of eradicating the virus are close to zero, pointing out the only disease eradicated successfully has been smallpox.

However, he said the success of the jab rollout means that when a new surge happens, it will be met with a ‘wall of vaccinated people’ which will significantly reduce the ratio between the number of cases and the resulting death toll.

Mr Johnson said he expects the fallout from Covid to last ‘as long as he will live’, adding that the biggest damage will be ‘the loss of learning for so many children and young people’.

‘It’s been an extraordinary moment in our history, a deeply difficult and distressing period,’ he said.

‘But the extent to which it affects us will depend on the fortifications we build against it.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×