France bans Brits from traveling to the country for fear of the Covid strain as Germany and Italy add the UK to the list of suspended travel

FRANCE has banned the British from traveling to the country amid fears that a mutant strain of coronavirus will pass through London and the South East.

It comes after the British were today banned from traveling to a number of European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, and Germany is set to announce a flight ban tonight.

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Boris Johnson canceled Christmas for millions of Britons last night, telling them to “stay local” amid fears the variant could spread as much as 70 percent faster.

The prime minister applied draconian new Level 4 measures in London, the south-east and the east of England, admitting “bitter regret” for ending the family reunions.

Responding to news of the variant, the French government confirmed tonight that all flights from the UK would be canceled for the next 48 hours.

A government spokesman said: “All flows of people from the UK to France are suspended from midnight tonight, for 48 hours, and for all modes of transport.”

Germany, which is currently locked up again, will also announce a ban on flights to the UK from midnight, a Bundestag source told AFP.

The source said Berlin “will make it official in the next few hours” and suggested that the same policy could be adopted throughout the 27-member European Union.

An initial ban would last until Britain leaves the EU on January 1, but the source added that Berlin is already “working on measures” to extend the flight ban beyond that date.

It comes after a German government official told DPA news agency that the flight restrictions were a “serious option.”

Ireland has also announced similar measures banning flights from the UK for the first time in history, reports RTE.

The initial ban is scheduled to last 48 hours and will begin at midnight, with the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to decide on a possible extension.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan told Virgin News: “General travel between here and Britain will be restricted, and we will review it on Tuesday morning.”

Ferry crossings will continue to keep supply chains moving, the Irish government confirmed.

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It comes as the Dutch government previously announced that all flights from the UK were prohibited from entering the Netherlands, and Belgium did the same by stopping Eurostar flights and trains for at least 24 hours.

It comes after Italy and Austria have also enacted similar measures, while the Israeli government this afternoon also banned all non-Israelis flying from the UK from entry.

In a statement, the Dutch government said: “Pending further information and an explanation of the epidemiological situation in the UK, the institute for public health recommends that any introduction of this strain of virus from the UK should be limited as much as possible. possible, limiting or controlling the movement of passengers. “

He continued: “In the coming days, in close collaboration with other EU member states, it will study the possibilities of further restricting imports of the virus from the UK.”

The ban is in effect from 5 a.m. on Sunday through January 1.

Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the country would stop flights and trains from the UK for at least 24 hours starting at midnight as a “precaution”.

He added: “Of course, that could be extended if we seem to have more conclusive data.”

The new variant of the coronavirus is understood to have spread to at least two other countries, The Telegraph reported.

The Netherlands is under a five-week lockdown until mid-January with schools and all non-essential stores closed to stem the rise of the virus.

Europe, the epicenter of the pandemic earlier this year, is once again seeing cases on the rise and officials fear an explosion of infections after the Christmas holidays as families reunite.

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And Boris Johnson unveiled the new measures in the UK last night amid fears that hospitals will be overwhelmed if the new strain gets out of control.

Travel and home mixing are banned starting today under the new higher-level restrictions, and families elsewhere can only form Christmas bubbles for one day on December 25.

Scotland also banned travel from England last night: Wales plunged into Level 4 restrictions starting at midnight.

However, thousands of Londoners fled the capital last night after the announcement.

The city’s stations were said to be like “war zones,” as locals were leaving the city before the tough new Level 4 blockade took effect at midnight.

Professor Chris Whitty begged people to stay home last night when the rules were released, warning: “If you’ve packed a bag, unpack it.”

Within hours, there were long lines of traffic on the roads leading out of London and chaotic crowds at the railway terminals as people fled to avoid the brutal new restrictions.

At St Pancras station hundreds of people were filmed running towards the barriers to board the trains leaving the capital.

Similar frenzied scenes were photographed at Paddington Station and King’s Cross.

The British reacted with fury last night to the news that Christmas was canceled, and millions had already made their plans and paid out food, alcohol and gifts.

Many have taken to social media to vent their anger.

A devastated user said: “I’m sorry, but my family has spent money on food for my family that will come in the next few days. I see my family twice a year and I am absolutely devastated as if I cannot explain how upsetting and this is disheartening “.