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Britain has just been celebrated as the first Western country to approve a corona vaccine and begin a vaccination campaign. The hope that the end of the pandemic would appear with the immunization of people did not last long. Currently, events are happening in rapid succession. On Saturday night, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (56) imposed a harsh blockade on London and large areas of southern England. The reason: a coronavirus mutation that is 70 percent more contagious.
While people were quick to make some final purchases and visit before the holiday season, the Netherlands immediately banned flights from the UK. The example of the Netherlands was followed on Sunday by almost a dozen other countries, including Italy, Belgium and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, all passenger traffic between Britain and France has also stopped for at least 48 hours. Ship connections to Dover, which connects England to continental Europe, as well as the Eurotunnel between France and England will close Monday night. In doing so, the French are also blocking truck traffic with the island kingdom.
Leo T. (19) flies from London to Stuttgart and tells
Germany is also reportedly considering suspending flights. There is currently chaos and confusion at airports. Later on Sunday, it was only announced that non-German travelers from Britain could enter if they tested negative for Corona. The rule has also been in effect for German citizens since Sunday night. All passengers on flights from Great Britain are required to take a rapid corona test.
Leo T. (19), who lives in Thurgau, was on a plane from London Heathrow to Stuttgart late on Sunday. After landing, groups of 20 passengers had to march towards the test center. “It was all relatively quick, but it was definitely an hour in total,” says T.
At check-in in London it was said that the Germans did not have to take the test. “That rule changed while we were in the air.” Passengers with a German passport were the first to take the test, foreign citizens had to wait longer. Apparently no one in his group tested positive: “Everyone had a negative result and was allowed to collect their luggage.
Camping beds for passengers who cannot leave the airport.
Others, as reported by “Bild”, are detained at the airport, for example in Hannover. Fearing authorities that British passengers could introduce the highly aggressive virus, neither locals nor foreigners are allowed to leave the airport transit area.
There are shocking scenes. Whole families are being held against their will. A family, including young children and babies, has to spend the night in rollaway beds. “There are people here with a small baby,” said a stuck passenger. “There is a new positive side. Now we should all be in a room so that we really all contract the corona virus. “
British “outcasts” fear a supply collapse
Meanwhile, Britain is being cut off from Europe due to the mutation of the virus. The UK is being isolated “to protect Europe”, writes the British newspaper “The Sun”. “Outcast Great Britain,” headlines the British “Daily Mail”. The latest UK infection figures are also dramatic. A new record for new infections was reported Sunday with 35,928 cases. A week ago there were still 18,447 new infections and 144 deaths from Covid 19. This Sunday there are already 326 deaths, more than double than a week ago.
With the cancellation of flights, ferries and trains to and from Europe, there is fear in Britain of a collapse in the supply of food and goods. In view of the impending “No Brexit” deal, the British have been bracing for potential supply bottlenecks for months. No one seems to have expected Europe to be isolated practically overnight.
“The suspension of freight traffic accompanied from Britain to France last night has the potential to seriously jeopardize the supply of fresh food at Christmas,” quoted “The Sun” Ian Wright of the British Association of Food and Drink Manufacturers. Industry circles fear panic buying, which could lead to a total collapse of the supply situation. Prime Minister Johnson has called a crisis meeting for Monday. A “constant flow of cargo” to and from Great Britain must be ensured.
