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According to the Associated Press on the 21st (local time), the US state of New York agreed with British Airways and British Airways to pick up only passengers who tested negative for Corona 19 on flights to New York.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the deal with British Airways on the same day that he asked Delta and Virgin Airlines to voluntarily screen passengers leaving the UK.
“If the airlines refuse, the state will take other measures,” he warned.
New York State shares jurisdiction over JFK International Airport with the federal government, so Governor Cuomo can crack down on it, including an entry ban. The day before, Governor Cuomo urged the United States federal government to respond firmly, saying that even one infected person out of every six British planes arriving daily in New York could lead to the worst.
In Europe, more and more countries are restricting transport from the UK. According to Reuters and others, France banned transport from the UK for 48 hours starting at 0 o’clock that day. Not only flights were blocked, but also ports such as Dover and entry to France through the Eurotunnel.
However, on the 22nd, the BBC reported that French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and agreed to reopen the French border with Britain, with details to be released soon. Secretary of State Clement Bonn, in charge of European affairs at the French Foreign Ministry, told the BBC that the measures agreed upon by the two leaders would come into effect from the 23rd. The agreement between the two leaders is not known in detail but is expected to include tiered open measures for air, sea and land transport. The German government also banned all landings from England except for cargo planes from 00:00 on the 21st. Eurostar, a high-speed train that traveled between Belgium and London, was also suspended.
In North America, Canada has banned flights from the UK. In Asia, India and Hong Kong have joined the ban on flights from the UK.
As a result, the London Stock Exchange’s FTSE 100 index closed 1.73% down from the previous trading day. The pound-dollar exchange rate also fell 1.16% at 6pm (GMT).
Earlier, Prime Minister Johnson decided on an emergency lockdown last weekend, saying the COVID-19 variant is spreading rapidly in the capital London and south-east England. Corona 19 strains are known to have up to 70% more infectivity than existing Corona 19.
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