European nations ban UK flights to fend off mutant Covid-19 strain
Several European countries are imposing bans on flights from the UK in an attempt to make sure that a new strain of corona virus sweeping parts of southern England does not reach them.
The Netherlands is banning flights from the UK for at least the rest of the year while Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio also announced curbs were being imposed.
Belgium' s prime minister issued a ban for at least 24 hours.
The Irish government confirmed last night it is to impose a 48-hour ban on travel from Britain to Ireland. "We need haulage coming in to keep our shelves full but other passengers will be restricted,” said the country' s transport minister, Eamon Ryan.
Germany said it was banning flights from the UK, with the exception of cargo flights, from today. It is likely the ban will remain in place until at least 31 December. France, meanwhile, is stopping “flows of people” from the UK going into the country for 48 hours from today. It covers“all means of transport” and so includes freight.
The Dutch ban came into effect yesterday and the government said it was reacting to tougher measures imposed in London and surrounding areas by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Netherlands said it will assess" with other European Union nations the possibilities to contain the import of the virus from the United Kingdom".
Mr Johnson said a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70 per cent more transmissible than existing strains appears to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in southern England.
The Dutch government is already strongly advising its citizens not to travel unless necessary.
Britain has alerted the World Health Organisation that the new variant identified last week appears to be accelerating the spread of Covid-19, saying it accounted for some 60 per cent of the capital's cases.
Viruses mutate regularly and scientists have found thousands of mutations among samples of the virus causing Covid-19.
But many of these changes have no effect on how easily the virus spreads or how severe symptoms are.
Belgium has also banned flights from the UK and banned rail connections.
Belgian PM Alexander De Croo said he was issuing the order for 24 hours starting at midnight out of precaution.
"There area great many questions about this new mutation and if it is not already on the mainland," he said.
He hoped to have more clarity as of tomorrow.
Italian foreign minister Luigi DiMaio said his country would also take action.
Mr Di Maio tweeted: "As the government we have the duty to protect Italians, for this reason, after having advised the English (sic) government, with the health ministry we are signing the measure to suspend flights with Great Britain."
Austria and the Czech Republic were also imposing new measures against UK flights, with Prague announcing stricter quarantine rules with all people arriving in the country having spent at least 24 hours in UK territory required to self-isolate.