Countries close borders due to new COVID strain: Live News | Economy and Business News



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The discovery of the new strain sowed a new panic in a pandemic that has killed nearly 1.7 million people worldwide.

Countries around the world have closed borders and banned travel between the UK for fear of a highly infectious new strain of coronavirus, causing travel chaos and increasing the possibility of food shortages.

The strain, which some experts refer to as the B.1.1.7 lineage, is not the first new variant of the pandemic virus to emerge, but it is said to be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the previously dominant strain in the UK.

On Tuesday, the United States Senate approved a $ 892 billion coronavirus aid package, while funding federal government activities through September 2021.

There have been 77.3 million cases of coronavirus worldwide, with more than 1.7 million deaths.

Here are the latest updates:

Russia reports 28,776 new coronavirus cases, 561 deaths

Russia reported 28,776 new coronavirus cases, including 7,237 in Moscow, bringing the national tally to 2,906,503 since the pandemic began.

Authorities also confirmed 561 deaths, raising the official death toll to 51,912.

Uzbekistan closes borders due to new strain of COVID-19

Uzbekistan has closed its borders to residents of eight countries, including the United Kingdom, and to people who have recently visited them amid concerns about a new strain of coronavirus.

The entry ban is in effect until January 10 and will affect Italy, Germany, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, Australia and South Africa, the Central Asian nation’s government said in a statement.

UK and France work to lift border closure, UK minister says

The government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is working with France in an attempt to find a way to lift the border closures that have tangled one of Europe’s most important trade routes just days before the cliff edge of Brexit.

“We speak with our colleagues in France constantly on a variety of topics and that work has been underway for the last 24 hours and we will continue today,” Interior Minister Priti Patel told Sky.

Guatemala will restrict entry to travelers from the United Kingdom and South Africa

The new measures will require people who have visited Britain or South Africa within 14 days to be quarantined for at least a week upon arrival in Guatemala.

Health Minister Amelia Flores said the restrictions would initially last two months. Guatemala will restrict entry as of Wednesday.

Taiwan reports first locally transmitted case since April 12

The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 was friends with a person who had already been confirmed to be infected with the virus, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said at a press conference.

The United States Congress approves an aid package of 892,000 million dollars

The United States Congress approved a $ 892 billion coronavirus aid package on Monday, providing a lifeline for the pandemic-hit economy after months of inaction, while maintaining funding from the federal government. .

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the package and sign it into law.

The virus relief bill includes payments of $ 600 to most Americans, as well as additional payments to the millions of people who were left without work during the COVID-19 pandemic, just as a larger round of benefits is due Saturday. .

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