The UK has just informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of a new variant of the corona virus causing acute respiratory infections COVID-19. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new variant of the corona virus is capable of transmitting 70% faster than existing strains and is spreading rapidly in the south of England.
However, the British Prime Minister said: “So far there is no evidence that the new variant of the corona virus can cause more deaths, cause more serious illness, or that the newly distributed vaccines are ineffective with the new variant.”
Before the rapid spread of the new corona virus variant, many European countries including France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands have announced to suspend flights to the UK. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has applied stricter quarantine measures on people coming from England.
The Netherlands stops flights from the UK, which are expected to be in effect at least through 2020. The Dutch ban came into effect on the morning of December 20. The Dutch government also said that a similar variant of the virus was detected by the country in a case in early December. The Netherlands is further investigating whether there are any other cases involved.
Italy announced it would restrict flights to and from the UK right after noon on December 20 but did not announce the time limit for this restriction. Before that, Italy also discovered the patient with the new variant, currently in isolation in Rome.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said the country stopped all flights and trains from the UK for at least 24 hours, starting at midnight on December 20, and assessed the situation, considering whether apply other measures or not.
On December 20, the German government also said it would stop all flights from the UK except for cargo flights. This ban will be reviewed before December 31. France, meanwhile, said it had halted traffic routes with the UK for 48 hours, starting at midnight.
Ireland also confirmed that the country will also impose a 48-hour ban on flights arriving from the UK. Similarly, Austria said the country will stop flights from the UK but no details on when it will be applied.