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The stopover of the flight from the UK to Sweden will run until the turn of the year. The government decided on Wednesday. The decision was valid for 48 hours from Monday and would be made public on Wednesday afternoon.
The measure was introduced after a new variation of the coronavirus was discovered in the UK. The decision means that all passenger flights in the country will be stopped.
– It remains an extra difficult situation regarding the new form of the coronavirus that is spreading in the UK. We decided on this to handle the diffusion of the new form, says Anna Hallberg (S), Minister of Foreign Trade and Minister of Nordic Affairs.
She says the decision continuously evaluated in dialogue with the Swedish Public Health Agency and the Swedish Transport Agency. This means that the decision, if applicable, can be reversed before the New Year. But it can also be expanded once again.
– We instruct the Swedish Public Health Agency to inform the Swedish Transport Agency if we have measures that mean that the ban can be lifted before the turn of the year. But it can also be a situation where we extend the ban, Hallberg says.
One of the airlines affected by the flight ban is SAS.
– The decision means that we fly to the UK, but not back to Sweden, says John Eckhoff, SAS press manager, explaining that the plane back to Sweden is only used for freight transport.
Passengers whose trips are canceled will get their money back, Eckhoff says.
On Wednesday, the government took in addition, a decision on certain changes to the bans on travel to Sweden from the UK and Denmark, which runs until January 21. Exceptions are still made for Swedish citizens. The changes are intended to make exceptions for people who live or work in Sweden when traveling from the UK. When traveling from Denmark, exceptions are made that will make things easier for Bornholm and the people there.
Furthermore, people who have urgent family reasons are excluded.
– In the debate with the EU, we make these exceptions together. Decisions on closures and entry bans were made quickly. Now we have decided that those who live or work in Sweden or have urgent family reasons are excluded, says Anna Hallberg.
– For Denmark, it also applies that health and medical transport is excluded, which is important, he continues.
Read more:
Swedish virus samples may contain a British mutation
France opens border with Great Britain: requires covid proof to enter
