New Covid-19 variant prompts many countries to stop travel from the UK
A new strain of Covid-19 quickly spreading in southern England has prompted a number of countries to ban travel from the United Kingdom while other nations are mulling similar restrictions.
The new coronavirus variant is said to spread more quickly than others. British PM Boris Johnson placed London and southeastern England on a Tier 4 lockdown. He announced that both Christmas shopping and holiday gatherings are cancelled. Yesterday, the UK reported a record high of daily Covid-19 cases with 35,928 new cases.
“The spread is being driven by the new variant of the virus… It appears to spread more easily and may be up to 70% more transmissible than the earlier strain… This is now spreading very fast. It is with a very heavy heart that I say we cannot continue with Christmas as planned.”
So far, Thailand has not announced travel restrictions from the UK. All international arrivals still must go through a mandatory 14 day quarantine before travelling in Thailand.
Here’s some of the countries that have set travel restrictions on UK travellers so far.
Canada, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria and Switzerland.
- Canada is banning passenger travel from the UK for at least 72 hours.
- Argentina, Chile and Colombia have suspended direct flights from the UK.
- France is suspending travel from the UK for 48 hours while officials come up with a plan.
- Germany banned all flights from Britain except for cargo flights.
- The Netherlands banned flights from the UK for the rest of the year.
- Ireland issued a 48 hour flight ban.
- Italy announced flights from the UK would be banned until January 6.
- Belgium announced a 24 hour travel ban from the UK as a “precautionary measure.”
SOURCES: CNN | Associated Press
