[ad_1]
HONG KONG: Hong Kong will ban all flights arriving from the UK from midnight on Monday (December 21), following the discovery of a new and highly infectious strain of the coronavirus in Britain.
The city joins many European countries that have banned flights from Britain, including France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Outside of Europe, several countries such as Canada, Iran and Saudi Arabia have also closed their doors to travelers from the UK.
The new strain could be up to 70 percent more infectious, the UK said.
Much is unknown about the strain, but experts said current vaccines should still be effective against it. The new strain has not been reported in Asia.
READ: Britain to hold crisis meeting for COVID-19 travel ban
READ: Britain says new strain of COVID-19 ‘is out of control’
With authorities in the densely populated financial center trying to curb the rising number of cases, Health Secretary Sophia Chan said on Monday that more vigorous and targeted measures needed to be launched to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. .
“Now we are in a very critical stage,” Chan told a news conference. “During the fourth wave, we have seen that the virus is highly transmissible and the conditions of the patients are more serious than before.”
People arriving in Hong Kong from the UK before December 22 are required to be quarantined for a total of 21 days, compared to the previously required 14 days of quarantine. Chan said the government was monitoring whether to extend the duration of the quarantine for all arrivals.
Hong Kong saw an increase in the number of cases in late November, prompting authorities to once again close restaurants after 6 p.m. and close gyms and beauty salons. The measures will be in effect until at least January 6, Chan said.
LEE: Hong Kong bans eating in restaurants, announces new restrictions to curb the wave of ‘severe’ COVID-19
READ: Singapore and Hong Kong to postpone launch of air travel bubble
OTHER COUNTRIES MONITORING NEW STRAIN
South Korea, which imposes a 14-day quarantine on everyone entering the country, said on Monday it was reviewing new measures for flights from the UK and would test those coming from the UK twice before being released from quarantine.
Taiwan, which also has a 14-day quarantine, said on Sunday that there were no plans at this time to stop flights from Britain.
An Indian government committee tasked with monitoring the pandemic met on Monday to discuss the new strain, but it was unclear whether flights to the UK will be disrupted. The UK is one of 23 countries with which India shares an “air bubble”.
Japan, where entry from Britain is already banned in principle, said it will stay in close contact with other countries and with the World Health Organization to see how the new type of virus spreads.
CNA has contacted the Singapore authorities to see if there are plans to review existing guidelines for flights from Great Britain.
CHECK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
