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The new highly contagious Corona variant has arrived in Italy. The infected patient arrived by plane from Great Britain a few days ago.
8:20 am, December 21, 2020
After discovering a new one Coronavirus variant in the British Isles Numerous countries, including Austria, have issued landing bans for flights from Great Britain. The Netherlands extended its entry ban for travelers from Great Britain to include passengers on ferries.
This means that ferries coming from Britain with passengers on board can no longer make their way to the Netherlands, the ANP news agency reported Monday night, citing the government. However, the regulation, which initially applies until January 1, does not affect truckers.
“Great danger”
The Austrian ordinance takes effect on Tuesday at midnight and ends on January 1, 2021. “In this dangerous situation, rapid measures are the order of the day,” said the chancellor. Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) know on Sunday night. “We must do everything possible to avoid this dangerous virus mutation,” argued Schallenberg in a statement to the APA. “We have already informed the UK that we must take this drastic measure to protect our people. The mutation shows the great danger that this virus continues to pose.”
It already exists strict conditions, emphasized the Ministry of Health: Great Britain is seen as a state with a higher risk of infection, so there is a quarantine requirement for travelers. A free ten-day quarantine trial is possible after at least the fifth day.
Mutation of the virus is also detected in Italy
Meanwhile, the virus mutation, which is particularly widespread in southern England, has been found for the first time in a patient in Italy. The new form of virus was detected in a patient at the Celio military hospital in Rome, the Italian Ministry of Health announced. The patient had recently returned from the UK and was quarantined with his family. Outside the UK they were previously eleven cases of the virus mutation reported: nine in Denmark and one in the Netherlands and Australia.
Crisis meeting in Brussels
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel I already had with the president of France on Sunday Emmanuel macron as well as with the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the Council of the EU Charles Michel advise on the status of the crown. On Monday, EU ambassadors from all 27 member states will gather in Brussels for a crisis meeting. According to an EU representative, they want to advise on flight bans and mandatory tests for travelers from Great Britain, among other things.
In addition to Austria, other EU countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands, cut flights and sometimes also train connections with Great Britain. The port of Dover, in southern England, was closed to departing passengers. As justification, the port administration referred to entry restrictions into France.
Flight connections interrupted
Many non-European countries also disrupted flight connections with Great Britain, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Canada, Argentina and Chile. In the United States, by contrast, measures to travel with Great Britain were not initially announced. Admiral Brett Giroir, who is in charge of the government’s corona test program, said on ABC television that he currently does not see a need to suspend air traffic with the UK.
The new mutation in the virus is credited with a sharp increase in the number of infections in southern England. The British government warned that the most contagious mutation of the virus in England was “out of control”.
“Up to 70 percent more contagious”
Prime Minister Boris johnson said the mutation was “up to 70 percent more contagious” than the previously widespread form of the coronavirus. However, it probably does not lead to serious illness or increased mortality. There is also no evidence that the effectiveness of vaccines is affected by the new strain of the virus, Johnson said.
In London and the southeast of England it happened on Sunday due to the new variant of the virus strict lockdown with extensive exit restrictions in force. The British government wants to hold an emergency meeting on Monday due to the crown situation. A government spokesman said the “constant flow of goods” in and out of the UK should be discussed.
