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With the spread of a new strain of coronavirus in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium have already banned flights from that country. As Marius Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications, told BNS on Sunday, the Lithuanian government will make decisions on flights from the UK state in the near future.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, from December 14 at 1 p.m. until this Sunday at 1pm. 3,485 passengers arrived in Lithuania from Great Britain: 2,139 people arrived at Vilnius airport, 1,346 arrived at Kaunas airport.
Media: Merkel wants to close Europe’s borders to the British
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.
WHO European Chapter calls for tougher action on new virus strain
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.
UK health secretary: new coronavirus strain ‘out of control’
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.
Researchers appear to have first identified the new strain of the virus in a patient in September.
Susan Hopkins of Public Health England (PHE) told Sky News that the agency informed the government on Friday after modeling the overall severity of the new strain of the virus.
Hopkins confirmed the information provided by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the new strain of the virus could be 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.
European countries prepared on Sunday to ban flights from the UK.
Following the lead of the Netherlands, which banned all passenger flights from the UK on Sunday, Berlin is seriously considering a similar ban on flights from Britain and South Africa, a German government source said.
The Dutch ban went into effect at 6pm (7am Lithuanian 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.
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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