Countries that have blocked travel from UK after the emergence of new strain of coronavirus
Countries around the world have begun banning flights and travellers from Britain as London said Sunday the spread of a more-infectious new coronavirus strain was now "out of control”, stoking fears among many that a resurgence in the peak-level cases could be seen in parts of the world if the new variant of COVID-19 isn’t stopped.
Here are the countries that have announced travel bans so far.
France
France said Sunday it will halt all travel from Britain for 48 hours from midnight, including journeys "related to goods transport by road, air, sea or rail". The ban on everything but unaccompanied freight comes as companies scramble to shift merchandise across the Channel with days to go until Britain leaves the EU trade bloc. Prime Minister Jean Castex's office said the 48-hour period would offer time to coordinate a joint EU response that would ultimately allow travel from the UK to resume "with compulsory testing on departure".
(Photograph:Reuters)
Germany
Germany will halt all air links with the UK from midnight on Sunday, with the ban initially slated to last until December 31, Health Minister Jens Spahn told ARD public television. Cargo flights will be exempt. A government source told AFP that Berlin is already "working on measures" to extend the suspension into January, when the end of Britain's post-Brexit transition period means it will no longer be covered by EU rules that enable the flight ban.
(Photograph:AFP)
Italy
Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said that he had signed a decree "which blocks flights from Great Britain and prohibits entry into Italy of people who have stayed there during the last 14 days". Anyone in Italy who recently travelled from Britain must be tested, the statement added. The new strain has been found in one person in Italy who recently returned from the UK.
(Photograph:AFP)
Israel
Israel said it was barring entry to foreign citizens travelling from Britain, Denmark and South Africa. A joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and the health ministry also announced tough rules for Israelis returning home from those nations, saying that they would be confined in quarantine centres.
(Photograph:Reuters)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia said Sunday it was halting all flights and suspending entry through its land and sea ports for at least a week, with the option to extend for a further week. Passengers who arrived in the kingdom from Europe -- or any country where the new strain was detected -- will be required to self isolate for two weeks and undergo testing.
(Photograph:AFP)
