[ad_1]
BERLIN: Various European Nations On Sunday (December 20) they have or plan to halt flights from the UK to ensure that a new strain of coronavirus spreading across southern England does not establish a strong position on the continent.
The Netherlands banned flights from the UK for at least the rest of the year, while Belgium issued a 24-hour flight ban starting at midnight and also stopped train links to Britain.
German officials were considering “serious options” regarding incoming UK flights but have yet to take action.
The Netherlands said it will evaluate “with other nations of the European Union the possibilities of containing the importation of the virus from the United Kingdom.”
READ: Britain says new strain of COVID-19 ‘is out of control’
All three EU governments say their response comes in reaction to tougher measures imposed on Saturday in London and surrounding areas by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
He immediately placed those regions on a new level of Level 4 restrictions, saying that a new, fast-moving variant of the virus that is 70% more transmissible than existing strains appears to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and the southern England. .
“There is no evidence to suggest that it is more lethal or causes a more serious disease,” emphasized the British prime minister, or that vaccines will be less effective against it.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Sunday that he was issuing the flight ban for 24 hours starting at midnight “out of a precaution.”
“There are many questions about this new mutation and if it is not yet on the continent,” he said. He hoped to have more clarity by Tuesday.
Germany has yet to specify a ban, but is also considering limiting or stopping flights from the UK, the dpa news agency reported on Sunday. A senior German official told dpa that restrictions on flights from Britain are a “serious option.”
READ: British Prime Minister orders new curbs to curb most infectious COVID-19 strain
Germany, which holds the rotating presidency of the 27-nation EU, was in contact with its neighbors and closely following all developments on the new variant, reported dpa.
Italy plans to suspend flights to and from Britain for fear of a new strain of the coronavirus detected there, Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio said in a Facebook post.
“As a government we have a duty to protect Italians, that is why, after having notified the British government, with the Ministry of Health we are about to sign the provision to suspend flights with Great Britain,” said Di Maio.
“Our priority is to protect Italy and our compatriots.”
Europe has been hit this fall by rising new infections and deaths due to the resurgence of the virus, and many nations have reimposed a series of restrictions to control its outbreaks.
Britain has seen more than 67,000 deaths in the pandemic, the second highest confirmed figure in Europe after Italy.
Johnson closed all nonessential shops, hair salons, gyms and swimming pools on Saturday, telling Britons to reorganize their vacation plans.
Indoor home mixing is now not allowed in Level 4 areas, including London, and only essential travel is allowed in and out of those areas. In the rest of England, people will be able to gather in Christmas bubbles for just one day instead of the planned five.
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
