Matt Hancock told parliament there had been 103 cases of the Indian Covid-19 variant detected in the UK.
“The vast majority have links to international travel and have been picked up by testing at the border,” he said.
From Friday, only UK and Irish citizens and those with residency rights travelling from India can enter England and will be required to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel at their own expense.
“I understand the impact of this decision, but we must protect the progress we have made in this country,” Hancock said.
Boris Johnson has cancelled a planned trip to India because of the outbreak.
