COVID: Nations Impose UK Travel Bans over New Variant

European nations have begun to enforce travel bans on the United Kingdom after a more contagious and "out of control" coronavirus strain has been identified, BBC reports.

Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium are all stopping flights. Measures differ and are initially short-term, but the French rules also influence the freight transport of the Channel.

An EU meeting on Monday morning will discuss a more co-ordinated response.

The new variant has spread quickly in London and south-east England.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented a new level of four restrictions for these regions, preventing the expected relaxing of the rules over the Christmas season for millions of people.

Top health officials said there was no proof that the new version was more lethal or would respond differently to vaccinations, but it was shown to be up to 70% more communicable.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the new strain "was out of control. We have got to get it under control", admitting that this was "an incredibly difficult end to frankly an awful year"

Which countries have acted and how?

Within hours of the announcement by the United Kingdom on Saturday, the Netherlands announced that it would ban all passenger flights from the United Kingdom until 1 January.

Later on Sunday, it was said that it would also ban ferry passengers coming from the United Kingdom, while freight would proceed.

On Sunday, the country recorded a daily rise of more than 13,000 cases-a new record, despite tough lock-down measures being enforced on 14 December.

As Sunday wore on, major new restrictions were imposed by key European nations.

France suspended all travel links, including freight lorries, with the UK for 48 hours from midnight on Sunday (23:00 GMT).

Thousands of lorries move between the countries every day.

In response to France's ban, Eurotunnel said it would suspend access to its Folkestone terminal from 22:00 GMT for traffic heading to Calais. People booked to travel on Monday can get a refund. Trains will still run from Calais to Folkestone.

The ferry terminal at Dover is now closed for all accompanied traffic leaving the United Kingdom until further notice due to the French restrictions.

The freight problem has become so critical that Mr Johnson will chair the COBRA Emergency Response Meeting on Monday.

In Ireland, which has significant passenger traffic with the UK at this time of year, the government announced that flights arriving from England, Wales and Scotland would be banned for 48 hours at least from midnight, and "in the interests of public health, people in Britain, regardless of nationality, should not travel to Ireland, by air or sea".

Ferry crossings for freight would continue.

In Germany, an order from the ministry of transport said planes from the UK would not be allowed to land after midnight on Sunday, although cargo would be an exception. Health Minister Jens Spahn said the UK variant had not yet been detected in Germany.

Belgium suspended flights and train arrivals from the UK from midnight on Sunday for at least 24 hours as a "precautionary measure".

Italy is blocking all flights from the United Kingdom until 6 January. The first case of the UK variant was also found in Italy, announced by the Ministry of Health on Sunday. In Rome, the patient is in isolation.

Austria is to prohibit flights from the United Kingdom. Bulgaria has suspended flights to and from the United Kingdom from midnight, but, unlike short-term steps in many other countries, the suspension is until 31 January.

Turkey has temporarily banned all flights from the UK as has Switzerland.

A European Council meeting will be held at 10:00 GMT on Monday on co-ordinating EU actions.