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India announced a temporary ban on flights from the UK until December 31 starting at midnight Tuesday, spooked by a new and more transmissible strain of the coronavirus. The decision was made after a meeting of Health Ministry officials early Monday.
“Taking into account the prevailing situation in (the) UK, the Government of India has decided to suspend all flights originating from the UK to India,” said the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“Accordingly, flights from India to the UK will be temporarily suspended … as a precautionary measure, passengers arriving from the UK on all transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights arriving in India before 22 December at 11:59 p.m.) must be subjected to a mandatory RT-PCR test upon arrival at the airports in question, ”according to a cheep Posted by the official Twitter account of the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is currently used to detect coronavirus.
India’s ban comes after several countries, including France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Bulgaria and Denmark, imposed restrictions on flights from the UK. On Saturday, UK authorities announced they found a new strain of coronavirus that is 70 percent more transmissible, which later led to the closure of London and adjacent areas.
British Airways, which operates several flight routes between the UK and India, said it was forced to operate on a “reduced and dynamic schedule” due to the pandemic, and that customers on canceled flights would be informed.
“We will be in contact with customers whose flights are canceled to offer refund options, as well as encouraging customers who wish to change their reservation to do so through ba.com, where they can also request a voucher for future travel if your flight continues to operate. “Said a spokesperson The independent.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted an invitation last week to appear as a guest of honor at India’s Republic Day celebrations late next month. It is unclear whether his trip will be affected by the ban on passenger flights, if the restrictions are extended.
Last week, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, during his four-day visit to India, confirmed Johnson’s visit for the Republic Day celebrations, adding that they (Britain) “have focused too much myopic only in Europe. ”
Delhi Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal added his voice to a growing chorus on banning flights to the UK. “A new coronavirus mutation has emerged in the UK, which is a super-propagator. I urge the central government to ban all flights from the UK immediately, ”said Mr. Kejriwal tweeted.
Hours earlier, India’s health minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, had warned against panic over “imaginary situations, imaginary conversations.”
“The government is fully alert … there is no reason to panic,” Dr. Vardhan said.
Meanwhile, the new coronavirus strain, identified as VUI-202012/01, has also been found in Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia. The new mutation of the Covid-19 virus that raised concern around the world has been described by British Health Secretary Matt Hancock as “out of control”.
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