German Healthcare Minister Jens Spahn confirmed on Sunday that Germany was suspending the UK-bound flights starting from midnight, and introducing restrictions for South African flights on Monday due to the mutated Covid-19 strain discovered in both countries. According to Spahn, the new coronavirus variant discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa is an expected turn of events, however, the rapid spread [of the virus], which is suspected of this mutation, changes a lot. Therefore, it is important to stop Germany s and continental Europe s air traffic [with the United Kingdom], the minister said on air the ARD broadcaster. Spahn added that so far there was little information and the authorities needed to be vigilant.
European nations halt UK flights over mutant Covid-19 fears
By IANS
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European countries have started to ban flights to and from the UK following the emergence of a highly infectious mutant strain of the novel coronavirus.
A number of European countries have started to ban flights to and from the UK following the emergence of a highly infectious mutant strain of the novel coronavirus.
The development has led to chaos and confusion among people who were planning to spend the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays with families and friends on either side of the English Channel, reports Xinhua news agency.
New Covid strain: India suspends UK flights till December 31
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This story is from December 21, 2020
New Covid strain: India suspends UK flights till December 31
Saurabh Sinha / TNN / Updated: Dec 21, 2020, 21:46 IST
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NEW DELHI: India on Monday decided to suspend all flights from and to the UK between December 23 to 31 amid fears of a new and more infectious coronavirus variant found in the country. India has joined a growing list of countries like Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Italy who have temporarily halted flights to the UK.
Passengers arriving from the UK before the suspension deadline will be mandatorily tested for Covid on arrival at Indian airports.
The international courier specialist ParcelHero says the shuttering of many non-essential stores in the UK, combined with the closure of the French border, means there is now unprecedented pressure on supply chains and deliveries. It warns shoppers not to rely on last order dates or the Big Day could be further impacted.
The new Covid-19 variant could have a devastating effect on Christmas, warns the international delivery expert ParcelHero. It says the 48-hour closure of French ports means many UK-bound goods and food deliveries were delayed at a critical time.
ParcelHero is also warning that the unexpected closure of thousands of ‘non-essential’ stores at peak shopping time – as emergency Tier 4 restrictions bite – will mean many more online shopping orders and gifts being sent. It may all add up to Christmas being postponed for thousands of families.
How is this being resolved?
French government officials initially said the blockade could be resolved ‘within hours’. But there were no signs of a breakthrough yesterday evening and crisis talks between Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron are ongoing.
How many lorries have been affected?
Around 6,000 lorries were due to travel between the UK and France yesterday, but on a busy day the Dover Strait can handle up to 10,000. Around 500 lorries had to queue on the M20 but this was down to around 170 by the evening.
Will we face food shortages?
Shoppers have been urged to not panic buy and ministers have played down the threat of shortages. They point out that supermarkets have been stockpiling for weeks due to Brexit and many imports come in via unaccompanied freight, which is not affected by the ban.