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The WHO has called on its European members to step up measures against the new COCID-19 strain, which is spreading in Britain; Several EU countries, including Germany, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Romania, the Netherlands and Belgium, have said they intend to ban flights from the UK.
Meanwhile, a German government source said that the EU-27 as a whole could impose restrictions and that the countries are negotiating a joint response to maritime, road and rail links with Britain.
Rome and Berlin announced Sunday that they would stop flights to and from Britain from midnight.
The Netherlands have banned flights from the UK on Sunday from 6am. Belgium, meanwhile, has announced that it will follow suit, banning air and rail flights from the UK from midnight.
The EU, which last week became the first region in the world to exceed 500,000 deaths due to COVID-19, was alarmed to discover that a new strain of the virus had been detected in some parts of Britain that could spread further. easily.
The Austrian Ministry of Health has informed the APA news agency that it will also introduce a flight ban, but more detailed information is still being developed.
A WHO spokeswoman for Europe told AFP that “throughout Europe, where the virus can spread intensively and widely, countries must duplicate their prevention and control methods.”
Romania also said it had banned all flights to and from the UK for two weeks starting Monday afternoon.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel held a conference call on the issue on Sunday.
WHO: New strains of the virus have been reported outside the UK.
The World Health Organization (WHO) urges its members in Europe to step up measures against the pandemic as a new strain of the virus spreads in the UK, the European chapter of the organization told AFP.
Outside the UK, nine cases of human infection with a new strain of the virus have been reported in Denmark; one case each in the Netherlands and Australia, according to the WHO.
“Across Europe, where [virusas] widespread and intensive, countries need to strengthen their prevention and control methods, “said a spokeswoman for the WHO European Chapter.
The United Nations agency also called on its members around the world to “expand the sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 viruses as much as possible and to publish the data obtained, especially when the same concerning mutations are found.” the spokeswoman said.
Several European countries decided on Sunday to suspend all flights from Britain, where an “uncontrolled” spread of a new strain of coronavirus was detected.
The WHO noted “preliminary indications that the virus may spread more easily in humans” and “preliminary information” that the strain may affect the parameters of some diagnostic tests.
The WHO has no evidence that the new virus strain causes a different severity of the disease, but “it is also being studied.”
Eurostar stops trains
Eurostar trains between London, Brussels and Amsterdam have been suspended since Monday after the Belgian government announced that the borders with the United Kingdom would be closed at midnight on Sunday.
The high-speed train operator announced on Sunday that trains will continue to run between London and Paris.
The Belgian government has announced that it will review the order banning flights and trains from the UK after 24 hours. Eurostar said it was waiting for more details from governments on the application of travel restrictions.
European countries, including the Netherlands, Austria and Italy, announced Sunday that they would suspend flights from the UK. A few hours earlier, the British government had introduced strict new quarantine measures across much of southern England to stop the spread of a new, more contagious strain of the virus.
The British can be cut off from the EU
The German government, according to the German daily Bild, wants to completely stop travel from Britain to Europe due to the new strain of coronavirus. This measure would take effect the next midnight. Then, at the beginning of January 6, all flights from Britain would be banned, the newspaper writes, citing government sources. Trains and ferries may not run later.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will speak by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday to launch a campaign across Europe. It is said that it is necessary to close the door to the virus. Germany currently holds the presidency of the EU.
The reason for this initiative is the detection of a new strain of coronavirus in southeast England, which, according to initial data, is more contagious than current variants of the virus.
Italy will also temporarily ban flights from the UK due to the new strain of the virus.
Italy will join several other European countries that have banned passenger flights from the UK, where a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus is spreading, Italian chief of diplomacy Luigi Di Maio said on Sunday.
“The UK has issued a warning about a new variant of COVID-19,” the head of Italy’s Foreign Ministry wrote on Facebook. “It is our duty as a government to protect Italians, and for that reason … we will sign an order with the Health Minister banning flights to and from Britain.”
However, Mr. Di Maio did not indicate when the measure would take effect.
Early Sunday, the Netherlands announced a decision to temporarily ban passenger flights from the UK. The ban went into effect at 6 p.m. (7 a.m. Lithuania time) and valid until January 1.
Neighboring Belgium also announced a ban on flights and arrivals from Britain for at least one day starting at midnight.
Berlin is also seriously considering a similar ban on flights from Britain and South Africa, a German government source said.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday that the government had announced a strict quarantine in south-east England because a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus was “out of control”.
“We acted very quickly and decisively,” Hancock told Sky News. – Unfortunately, the new variety was out of control. We have to control it. “
According to Hancock, the situation is “terribly dire.”
“It will be very difficult to control until we distribute the vaccine,” he said.
Susan Hopkins of the Public Health Agency (PHE) has confirmed the information provided by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the new strain of the virus could reach 70%. more contagious.
Johnson announced on Saturday that residents of London and the south-east of England would not be able to leave their homes without the necessary need to curb the spread of a new strain of coronavirus.
He called for new restrictions to be imposed in London and south-east England from Sunday, with “fourth level rules” in place in the region, “whose people must stay home” until at least December 30.
The goal is to slow the spread of the latest coronavirus in areas where it has not yet spread.
The new measures mean that around a third of England’s population will not be able to travel and meet other people at Christmas.
It is not allowed to publish, quote or reproduce the information of the BNS news agency in the media and on websites without the written consent of the UAB “BNS”.
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