UK faces isolation as world tightens borders to keep out new virus strain postguam.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from postguam.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
December 22, 2020
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DOVER, England (Reuters) – Countries across the globe shut their borders to Britain on Monday due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, causing travel chaos and raising the prospect of food shortages days before Britain is set to leave the European Union.
India, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Jordan and Hong Kong suspended travel for Britons after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a mutated variant of the virus had been identified in the country. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman closed their borders completely.
Several other nations blocked travel from Britain over the weekend, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Belgium and Canada – although experts said the strain may already be circulating in countries with less advanced detection methods than the United Kingdom.
A HOST of countries have closed their borders to Britain over fears of a highly infectious new coronavirus strain in moves which have sparked travel chaos and raised the prospect of UK food shortages days before the Brexit cliff edge. Reports yesterday afternoon said that the whole of the EU was now not allowing travel from the UK, however these were not confirmed as we went to press. As the crisis began to escalate on Sunday, France blocked all freight lorries from crossing the Channel, causing major disruption at ports in Kent and closing off one of the most important trade arteries with mainland Europe.
New corona variant shuts UK
Top Story
December 22, 2020
LONDON: Countries across the globe shut their borders to Britain on Monday due to fears about a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, causing travel chaos and raising the prospect of food shortages days before Britain is set to leave the European Union.
Pakistan, India, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Jordan and Hong Kong suspended travel for Britons after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a mutated variant of the virus had been identified in the country. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman closed their borders completely.
Several other nations blocked travel from Britain over the weekend, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Belgium and Canada - although experts said the strain may already be circulating in countries with less advanced detection methods than the United Kingdom.
BBC News
Published
media caption1,500 lorries stuck in Kent as France remains closed
The EU s executive branch, the European Commission, has called on member states to lift travel bans imposed against the UK amid fears of a new Covid strain.
The non-binding recommendation was put forward ahead of a meeting of ambassadors from the 27-member bloc.
But with EU countries free to set their own rules on border controls they may continue with their own policies.
Thousands of lorries have become stuck, prompting warnings of shortages over Christmas.
The EU meets - but no sign of a common policy
Almost all the EU s 27 member states are currently blocking travellers from the UK.