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The appearance of a new strain of the emerging coronavirus in the United Kingdom caused a state of panic throughout the world, for which dozens of capitals canceled flights with the country that had been isolated this Monday.
But the World Health Organization confirmed that this new strain is not “out of control.”
“We have recorded a virus reproduction rate that far exceeds the threshold of 1.5 at different stages of this epidemic and we were able to control it. Consequently, the current situation in this regard is not out of control,” the WHO Health Emergency Case Officer Michael Ryan.
For her part, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that she authorized the distribution of the Pfizer-Bionic vaccine against Covid-19 in the countries of the European Union, a few hours after the European Medicines Agency approved its use.
Von der Leyen said: “The European Medicines Agency has carefully evaluated this vaccine and concluded that it is safe and effective against Covid-19. Based on this scientific evaluation, we authorize its use in the European Union market,” explaining that the first vaccinations will take place between December 27 and 29.
The president of the Commission expressed her “pride that the first vaccine against Covid-19 available in Europe is the result of a European effort”, referring to the German laboratory Biontech.
The Vatican on Monday urged Catholics around the world to receive the vaccine, explaining that all vaccines that have been developed are “morally acceptable.”
The virus boom caused many countries’ borders to close with the UK less than two weeks before their exit from the European single market, leading to chaos in ports, especially the port of Dover, and supply concerns. of fresh produce such as citrus fruits and salads during Christmas week.
Johnson reassures
The port of Dover, through which products from France in particular pass, announced its closure to traffic from the United Kingdom after several countries, including France and Canada, decided this Sunday to suspend all flights from British territory for several days.
Sweden, in turn, announced the closure of its borders with Denmark for health reasons.
But these developments will not affect UK supply chains, which remain “strong”, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday.
Johnson told reporters that “the delay includes only a very limited percentage of food entering the UK.”
He explained that he discussed the situation with French President Emmanuel Macron, citing his intention “to address the situation in the next few hours.”
On Tuesday, the European Union will try to ensure the consistency of measures announced by member states to prevent arrivals from the UK, according to a European diplomatic source, on Monday.
The source pointed out that an emergency meeting of the European Crisis Response Mechanism, held on Monday morning in Brussels, allowed “to define various options to reopen the borders in a coordinated manner with similar measures.”
In Canada, the most populous province of Ontario announced a new closure, starting Saturday, that will last 28 days in the south of the province and 14 days in the north.
The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, expressed his regret on Monday, calling what is happening in Britain a “tragedy”. He said: “If Britain decided to stay in the European Union, it would receive today, like all European countries, between 30, 40 and 50 billion euros and we could help it.”
“Help us!”
After the suspension of flights, dozens of British passengers were found stranded in German airports overnight from Sunday to Monday.
“We are all exhausted and many are crying,” Sophie said at Hannover airport. Another young woman, Manuela Tomis, said in an internet video: “Please help us get out of here!”
Outside the European Union, this was also the case in Kuwait, Iran, Switzerland, El Salvador and Israel, after the three countries also suspended flights with South Africa as a new mutation of the virus also appeared.
Saudi Arabia suspended all international flights as well as entry to its ports. Canada, Argentina, Colombia and Chile have suspended flights from the United Kingdom.
In the United States, the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, received the Corona vaccine in Delaware.
On Monday, a Connecticut nurse received the Moderna Corporation vaccine in front of the cameras, marking the start of the vaccination campaign with this new vaccine, which was approved on Friday.
On Sunday, the World Health Organization and the European Disease Agency called on their members in Europe to tighten containment and control measures to combat the spread of the new strain.
Meanwhile, Hungary and Slovenia announced Monday that they would ease the impact of the closure measures to allow families to reunite during the holidays.
