Media reports had earlier suggested ministers would announce the new measures later today, with rumours suggesting passengers would be required to show a negative test certificate before being allowed to board trains, ferries or planes to the UK, a move that would bring the UK in line with a number of other countries.

Cabinet office minister Michael Gove told ITV’s Good Morning Britain today: “We’ll be making announcements later today and in the days ahead about how our ports and airports are safe.

“And it is already the case there are restrictions on people coming into this country, and we’re stressing nobody should be travelling abroad.”

The PM failed to announce the new measures in his 5pm briefing to the nation, however when pressed by a journalist, Johnson acknowledged: “We will be bringing in measures to ensure we test people coming in to this country to prevent the virus being readmitted.”

The lack of detail means the travel industry was tonight left with more uncertainty about when the restrictions would be brought in.