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ANI | Updated: Dec 20, 2020 22:40 IST
London [UK], December 20 (ANI): A growing number of countries on Sunday halted flights from the UK following the discovery of a new variant of Covid-19, which is said to spread faster than other versions of the virus.
CNN reported that the Netherlands government is banning all passenger flights coming from the UK from Sunday morning until the New Year in order to minimise the risk of the new strain from spreading in the country as much as possible, according to a press release.
The Dutch government also said the same variant of the virus had been detected in the country in a sample from a case from early December, adding that it is conducting further investigations to determine if there are any other related cases.
Sunday, 20 December 2020 - 19:41
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock stated that the new variant of coronavirus, which prompted the UK Government to impose a Tier 4 lockdown on London and southeastern England over the festive period is “out of control.”
“The only way you can do that is by restricting social contacts and essentially, especially in Tier 4 areas, everybody needs to behave as if they may well have the virus and that is the way that we can get it under control and keep people safe,” Hancock stated.
He noted that the new coronavirus variant spreads faster than other strains, however, is not more dangerous.
: Sunday, December 20, 2020, 10:07 PM IST
United Kingdom: New COVID-19 virus strain out of control ; PM Johnson announces new tighter curbs - all you need to know
Under the new Tier 4 rules, people would be banned from mixing with anyone outside of their household, including on Christmas Day.
London:A man wears a face mask while he walks in Regent Street, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, in London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Belgium closes border for people coming from UK December 20, 2020
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced Sunday that Belgium’s borders would be closed for people traveling from the United Kingdom from midnight.
BRUSSELS Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced Sunday that Belgium’s borders would be closed for people traveling from the United Kingdom from midnight. The ban will remain in force for 24 hours.
Unlike an earlier ban imposed by the Dutch government the ban on people traveling to Belgium from the UK will apply not only to air passengers, but also to rail passengers, Belgian VRT news network reported.