UK BANS FLIGHTS FROM DENMARK BECAUSE OF COVID-19 MINK LINK
▶ WHO says six European countries have detected new strain of virus
Britain imposed an emergency ban on flights and ships to England from Denmark in a bid to stop a new strain of coronavirus linked to mink farms from spreading.
The decision follows a warning from the World Health Organisation on Friday that six European countries have now detected the new mutation, sparking fears it may override the effectiveness of a Covid-19 vaccine. Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the US have also discovered the coronavirus in minks. Stricter measures to curb the spread saw passenger planes from Denmark banned and ships prevented from docking in English ports on Saturday.
Yesterday, the ban was extended to all non-UK freight drivers who have travelled through Denmark in the last 14 days. All UK nationals wishing to enter England were told they must self-isolate for 14 days.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the ban was the “right decision”.
“The concern is that you see a mutated version of the coronavirus and that if it spreads, it would undermine our ability to make an effective vaccine,” he told Sky News yesterday. “We need to look very carefully at the science.”
But policing of the measures has been called into question as the curbs rely on people to abide by isolation rules and not use public transport.
The UK Home Office said it is “stepping up Border Force presence” to ensure that those arriving in the UK from Denmark comply with the new restrictions.
Denmark – the biggest producer of mink fur in the world – is culling 17 million of the animals after the Covid-19 outbreaks on farms resulted in infections among workers.
“Given the significant unknowns regarding the new mutation of Covid-19 originating in Denmark we have moved quickly to protect our citizens and prevent the spread of the virus to the UK,” the Department of Transport said.
“The UK government is working closely with international partners to understand the changes in the virus that have been reported in Denmark.”
Health officials are attempting to test and trace at least 6,000 people who flew into the UK from Denmark in the last fortnight.
Last week, Europe topped 10 million cases. Many countries are at the start of a month-long lockdown as infection rates continue to climb.
On Saturday, the UK recorded 413 new deaths from the virus and the number of people testing positive rose by 24,957, a daily increase of 1,670. France, Germany and England have announced nationwide lockdowns for at least the next month.
Portugal has imposed a partial lockdown and Spain and Italy are tightening restrictions.
Yesterday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 16,017 to 658,505, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed, with the reported death toll rising by 63 to 11,289. It followed a night of further violent protests against coronavirus restrictions in Leipzig.
France reported almost 90,000 new daily cases on Saturday – a record high for the third day in a row.
“The second wave has arrived here brutally, violently,” French Prime Minister Jean Castex tweeted.
Earlier this week, France said it was using 4,089 of its 6,400 intensive care beds.