The image of hundreds of trapped trucks that reflects the chaos experienced in the United Kingdom by the new variant of the coronavirus | World

On Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions on the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus in the southeast of England – which seems more contagious than others, although it is no longer lethal – and shortly after, dozens of countries. canceled flights to the country.

• WHO director says new coronavirus variant is not ‘out of control’, but lockdowns are prudent

France announced the closure of its border with the United Kingdom for 48 hours, a measure that prevented trucks from leaving the port of Dover.

Because of this, kilometer-long lines of trucks are being observed on roads and motorways in the English region of Kent, turning some sections into makeshift parking lots.

For months, British authorities have rehearsed Operation Stack, designed to deal with border problems that could arise with Brexit, the UK’s exit from the European Union, to be completed on December 31.

The sudden closure of the border with France meant that the same plans were put in place to minimize chaos in freight transport.

France could restore traffic between the two countries in a few hours, testing truck drivers for the coronavirus before crossing the border.

Although travel from France to the UK is allowed, many companies do not want to risk being trapped on British soil.

This means that there is a fear of shortages of products in stores and supermarkets in the days before Christmas, although the authorities have urged citizens to avoid buying in a panic, because, according to them, there will be no shortage of food.

The supermarket chain Sainsbury’s, the second largest in the UK, warned that there may be shortages “of lettuce, other salads, cauliflower, broccoli and citrus in the coming days.”

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