A growing list of European Union nations and Canada barred travel from the U.K. on Sunday and others were considering similar action, in a bid to prevent  a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England from spreading to the continent.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday disclosed that he ordered fresh restrictions on regular activities amid fear of a dramatic surge in confirmed coronavirus cases.

Fresh restrictions on social gatherings in England appear to be on the cards as the British government seeks to suppress a sharp spike in new coronavirus infections.