European Countries Suspend Air Travel to Britain
Several European countries, including Germany, halted flights from Britain starting midnight Monday. Passengers who arrived in Germany late had to wait several hours at airports, and some were forced to spend the night at airport terminals.
With the spread of a new strain of coronavirus, air passenger travel from Britain to Germany and several other European countries has been suspended. The Netherlands and Belgium had already banned aircraft from Britain the day before.
Since the early hours of Monday, December 21, German airports have been closed to incoming flights from Britain. Those who had arrived in the final hours of Sunday evening spent several hours at airports waiting to take coronavirus tests and receive their results.
Now, in addition to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, the countries of France, Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Chile have also suspended all flights from Britain.
France and Belgium have also blocked sea and land routes, including railways, to the English Channel and the British Isles.
The motivation for the new regulations is the spread of a new strain of coronavirus, which is a mutated version of the previous virus. This new strain first appeared in Britain, but on Sunday evening (December 20), Italy announced that the new strain of the virus was detected in a passenger who had arrived from Britain; he is currently in quarantine.
In Germany, the suspension of flights from Britain has been announced to last until the end of the current calendar year. According to reports that have not yet been officially confirmed, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, is working to achieve a complete suspension of all European contact with Britain until January 6.
Faster Transmission
According to British authorities, the mutated strain of coronavirus has up to 70 percent greater transmission power than the normal type. This virus is spreading rapidly, particularly in London and the southeast of England.
The outbreak of this virus has prompted British authorities to impose stricter regulations and severely limit the ability to travel and commute. Wales and Scotland have now announced stricter restrictions for their citizens.
The British government has expressed concern about the mutated strain of coronavirus. Matt Hancock, Britain’s Health Secretary, has expressed regret that the new strain of the virus has gotten out of control and containing it is a major challenge for the country’s authorities.
The World Health Organization announced in a Twitter message that it is in contact with British authorities regarding the new strain of coronavirus and is transmitting the latest information to officials of all member countries.
The most important concern relates to doubts about the effectiveness of new vaccines; experts have not yet definitively stated whether the German-American Biontech-Pfizer vaccine, which the British government has procured for its citizens, will be effective against the new strain of coronavirus.
Professor Chris Witty, senior advisor to the British government, expressed hope that existing vaccines will be effective in preventing the new strain of coronavirus.
Source: DW
