New Covid-19 infections rose by 2,288 on Friday, the third day that the number has gone up significantly. The surge puts the country at risk of being added to the UK’s quarantine list, with cases now at levels not seen since May. The figures come after Britons preparing to visit were warned today there is ‘always the risk of disruption to travel plans’.

There has been days of speculation that the country could follow Spain and others in being bumped off the ‘safe list’ due to the spike in coronavirus cases.

On Thursday, the UK added Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas to its quarantine list, meaning arrivals from those countries after 4am on Saturday will need to self-isolate for 14 days. The government is also advising against non-essential travel to these destinations.

France remained on the safe list, though many other countries in Europe have imposed a quarantine restriction on it.

Spain and Luxembourg were added to the quarantine list last month. The announcement caused chaos for thousands of British holidaymakers in Spain, who were given just 24 hours notice.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak admitted today that people with holidays booked to France face a ‘very tricky situation’.

However, he defended the government’s right to make last minute decisions on the matter.

‘What I can say to people is we’re in the midst of a global pandemic and that means there is always the risk of disruption to travel plans and people need to bear that in mind,’ he told Sky News.

‘It’s the right thing for us to do to keep everything under review on a constant basis, talking with our scientists and medical advisers.

‘And if we need to take action as you’ve seen overnight, we will of course not hesitate to do that and we’re doing that to protect people’s health.

‘In the meantime people should look at the guidance and take everything into account and make a decision they think is best.’

On Thursday infections in France rose rose by more than 1,600 over a 24-hour period.

French health ministry adviser Jerome Salomon said: ‘The virus continues to circulate very actively worldwide. There is a very clear upwards trend in France and Europe.’

The city of Toulouse has introduced new rules requiring face masks in its busiest streets this week, joining Nice, Lille and other municipalities near the Belgian border in expanding guidance around face coverings.

Paris and a number of other cities expected to follow suit.