European countries cut air links with Britain

Several European countries, including Germany, suspended flights from Britain from midnight on Monday. Passengers who arrived late in Germany were left waiting for hours at airports, with some forced to spend the night at the airport.

The spread of the new strain of coronavirus has halted the arrival of air passengers from Britain to Germany and several other European countries. The Netherlands and Belgium had banned flights from Britain the day before.

German airports have been closed to incoming flights from the UK since the early hours of Monday, December 21. Those who arrived in the late hours of Sunday evening waited several hours at the airports to be tested for coronavirus and receive their results.

Now, in addition to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Chile have also suspended all flights from the United Kingdom.

France and Belgium have also blocked sea and land routes, including rail, to the English Channel and the island of Britain.

The new rules are being prompted by the spread of a new strain of coronavirus, a mutated version of the same virus that first emerged in the UK, but on Sunday evening (December 20) Italy announced that a traveller from the UK had tested positive for the new strain, who is now in quarantine.

Germany has announced a suspension of flights from the UK until the end of this year. According to reports that have not yet been officially confirmed, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is working towards a complete cut-off of all European flights to the UK by January 6th.

Faster spread 

A mutant strain of the coronavirus is up to 70% more contagious than the normal strain, according to British authorities. The virus is spreading rapidly, especially in London and the southeast of England.

The spread of the virus has led British authorities to impose stricter regulations and severely restrict movement and travel. Wales and Scotland have now announced stricter restrictions for citizens.

The British government has expressed concern about the mutated form of the coronavirus. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has expressed regret that the new type of virus is out of control and that containing it is a major challenge for the country's leaders.

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 passing on the latest information to officials in all member countries.

The most important concern relates to doubts about the effectiveness of new vaccines; experts have not yet definitively commented on the effectiveness of the German-American BionTech-Pfizer vaccine, which the British government has made available to its citizens.

Professor Chris Whitty, a senior adviser to the British government, has expressed hope that existing vaccines will be effective in preventing the new strain of coronavirus.

Source: DW