Britain’s biggest port stopped all traffic heading to Europe and food supplies into the nation face major disruption after the discovery of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus prompted its nearest neighbors to limit travel links with the U.K.
The crisis prompted Boris Johnson to convene a meeting of the government’s emergency committee on Monday in a bid to keep goods flowing. The concern is focused on links with France, which suspended inbound travel from the U.K., including freight, for 48 hours starting midnight Sunday.
And with Britain yet to agree on its future trade relationship with the European Union before the Dec. 31 deadline, industry groups sounded the alarm roads have already been been clogged on both sides of the Channel for days. One freight transport group urged shoppers to avoid panic buying, while the Food and Drink Federation warned of the potential for serious disruption to fresh food supplies over the Christmas holidays.
Covid-19: More than 40 countries ban UK arrivals
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media captionBoris Johnson: British supermarkets say supply chain is strong and robust .
More than 40 countries have banned UK arrivals because of concerns about the spread of a new variant of coronavirus.
Flights from the UK are being suspended to territories across the world including Spain, India and Hong Kong.
France shut its border with the UK for 48 hours, meaning no lorries or ferries can leave from the port of Dover.
Boris Johnson said he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and both sides wanted to resolve these problems as fast as possible .
Supermarket shoppers have reported seeing queues and empty shelves similar to those from the start of the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown.
The busy conditions come despite repeated calls not to panic-buy after a new variant of coronavirus in the south-east of England caused France to stop freight travelling from the UK.
Kevin Edger said he had to go to three supermarkets for his shopping in Bridgend, Wales, on Monday after being met with empty shelves in Sainsbury’s – he also queued for almost an hour.
Just popped to @sainsburys and guess what, people have been panic buying, again. Selfish. Literally no veg or fruit. pic.twitter.com/tEj5UdNngl
Warnings over panic buying amid fears supermarkets will run out We need a pragmatic solution that gets drivers across the border and into the UK by whatever route
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There is “no need” to panic-buy as a result of France’s ban on freight lorries from the UK, the chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation has said.