The Indian coronavirus mutation could “scupper” the UK’s march to freedom, a leading scientist has warned.

It comes despite the lockdown and vaccine programme leading to cases falling to a seven-month low.

COVID-19 infections across the UK dropped to the lowest level since the autumn, according to the latest figures.

But a professor of immunology has said the country should be on its guard against a third wave of coronavirus after 77 cases of the B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India, were found.

Imperial College’s Danny Altmann said the discovery of the Indian variant should warrant the country being placed on the UK’s “red list” meaning incoming travellers arriving should be subject to a hotel quarantine.

However, officials have designated it as a variant under investigation (VUI) rather than a variant of concern.

And Downing Street has insisted Boris Johnson’s trip to India later this month – his first major international visit since securing a Brexit trade deal with Brussels – will go ahead.

“I think we should be terribly concerned about it,” Prof Altmann told BBC News.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“They (variants of concern) are things that can most scupper our escape plan at the moment and give us a third wave. They are a worry.”

Prof Altmann said he found it “mystifying” and “slightly confounding” that those flying in from India were not required to quarantine in a hotel.

Meanwhile, the group advising ministers on vaccine deployment has recommended that pregnant women should be offered a COVID-19 jab at the same time as the rest of the population.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had previously only recommended that jabs be offered to pregnant women when their risk of exposure to the virus is high, such as health workers, or if a woman has underlying health conditions.

The development coincided with a continuing decline in coronavirus infections across Britain.

But the fall marked a contrast to rising case rates in other parts of the world.

World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said coronavirus rates globally were “worrying”, as India recorded more than 217,000 daily cases on Friday, pushing its total since the pandemic began past 14.2 million.

Related posts:

COVID vaccines have prevented 10,400 deaths in older adults, Public Health England says PM praises Prince Philip’s ‘steadfast support’ for Queen as tributes paid to duke ‘It’s every single day’: Female footballer says online abuse is getting worse 29 men charged over alleged child sexual exploitation of female victim in West Yorkshire UK records another 7,742 COVID cases and three deaths ahead of roadmap announcement Family of investigator killed with axe hope for answers as long-awaited report due Fresh arrest made over social media racist abuse of England footballers England star Jadon Sancho says ‘hate will never win’ as he hits back at online racist abuse Serial killer Stephen Port’s first victim may have been dead for more than a day before being found, inquest hears Restaurants, bars and festivals helped economy pick up in August after rules eased UK records 40,375 new COVID cases and 145 deaths Harry Kane breaks competitive goal scoring record for England after perfect hat-trick