Fears of fresh food shortage in UK grow after emergence of coronavirus variant
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Monday Dec 21, 2020
Travellers wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stand at check-in desks at Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport in west London on December 21, 2020, as a string of countries around the world banned travellers arriving from the UK, due to the rapid spread of a new, more-infectious coronavirus strain. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was to chair a crisis meeting Monday as a growing number of countries blocked flights from Britain over a new highly infectious coronavirus strain the UK said was out of control . AFP
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Pictures this morning paint a bleak picture of London as the streets lie empty just days before Christmas
Tube networks was near-empty at rush hour as shutters came down on shops and train stations were deserted
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold crisis talks with Ministers later today as he chairs Cobra committee
Stark pictures this morning paint a bleak picture of London as the streets lie empty just days before Christmas.
The festive season would ordinarily be in full swing with families out doing last minute shopping and colleagues finishing off their work before getting merry and toasting the year at Christmas parties.
French lorry ban could threaten Christmas fresh food supplies
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Updated: 22:17, 20 December 2020
Christmas fresh food supplies could be disrupted by the French travel ban, it was warned tonight.
Freight and passenger traffic is banned from entering France for the next 48 hours after emergency restrictions were imposed.
Freight lorries and traffic pass through the port of Dover - closest part of the UK to France and ferry terminal to the continent of Europe. (43640251)
Ian Wright, boss of the Food and Drink Federation, warned: Tonightâs suspension of accompanied freight traffic from the UK to France has the potential to cause serious disruption to UK Christmas fresh food supplies and exports of UK food and drink.
Shellfish suppliers also warned their products could be in short supply.
They said the perishable products were stranded as the French border closed.
Number 10 has called for calm as panic-buyers continue to queue outside supermarkets - but Sainsbury s has reassured customers that all the ingredients needed for a traditional Christmas dinner are already in the country.
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People were instead urged to shop normally for all their festive staples after the French government pledged to resume movement as soon as possible after a coronavirus travel ban plunged the country into chaos.
The Port of Dover confirmed inbound lorries are now coming into the UK, but news that supermarket essentials are crossing over into the country from France again has yet to reach shoppers, with queues of panic-buyers continuing to grow with just four days before Christmas.
The supermarket told Express.co.uk: We will start to see gaps over the coming days on lettuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, brocolli and citrus fruit.
It added it is sourcing everything that it can and is looking into alternative transport for products sourced from Europe.
Sainsbury s stated it hopes the UK and French governments can come to a mutually agreeable solution which prioritises the passage of produce and any other food at the ports.
Despite the shortage warning, the retailer added Christmas food would not be affected.
Sainsbury s: The most popular supermarkets have been revealed (Image: EXPRESS)
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