New "Out of Control" UK Coronavirus Strain Leads to Widespread Travel Restrictions | More Than 40 Countries Banned Arrivals

A new strain of Coronavirus in the UK has the country on high alert. It also led to several other countries imposing a ban on arrivals from the UK. The infectious mutation of the coronavirus has spread in London and parts of southeast England and is causing concern around the world, as per the Independent. The UK health secretary, Matt Hancock, described the spread of the new strain as "out of control." However, it is not yet believed as a more severe mutation.

Many European countries have stopped all forms of transport with the UK in a bid to protect those within their borders. More than 40 countries, including Spain, India, and Hong Kong, have suspended flights from the UK, as per BBC. France shut its border with the UK for 48 hours preventing lorries or ferries from traveling in or out.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and both sides wanted to resolve "these problems as fast as possible." During a press conference, he said, "We had a very good call and we both understand each other's positions... We are working with our friends across the Channel to unblock the flow of trade."

France's European Affairs Minister Clément Beaune said they would announce what measures were being introduced "after this phase of emergency and harsh precaution that we had to take." The new measures were set to come in from December 23. France is only one of the European nations closing itself to the UK.

In the next two days, the European Union will come up with procedures to allow travel to begin again, but with strict testing requirements, as per the Independent. Countries across Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East have placed some travel restrictions on different modes of transport from the UK, reported CNN.

The new strain has also been found in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Australia, according to the World Health Organization. Meanwhile, a different variant was reported in South Africa, said the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, Maria van Kerkhove.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is currently trying to help British nationals who were affected by the bans and were unable to access much of Europe and other parts of the world.

The fast-spreading strain is up to 70% more infectious and could be responsible for the increase in COVID-19 cases in South East England in recent weeks, writes the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota. This prompted Johnson to impose tier 4-level restrictions in London, the South East, and East of England over the weekend. People rushed to the train station to leave before the restrictions came into place. One of the restrictions in tier 4 areas makes it illegal to leave the city unless for essential travel.

Meanwhile, the study of the variant is ongoing. The WHO said that the new variant has already affected 1,108 identified people as of December 13. Most cases were in people younger than 60. "They're trying to determine how much of that is associated with the variant itself, as well as behavioral differences in individuals that this variant has infected," Van Kerkhove said.

References:

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/coronavirus-travel-ban-europe-uk-flights-b1776855.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55391289

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/uk-travel-ban-coronavirus-variant/index.html

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/uk-coronavirus-variant-prompts-widespread-travel-restrictions