LONDON (AFP): European countries banned flights from the UK on Sunday (Dec 20) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) called for stronger containment measures as the British government warned that a potent new strain of the virus was out of control .
As the WHO urged its European members to strengthen measures against a new variant of Covid-19 circulating in Britain, the Netherlands imposed a ban on UK flights from 6:00am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and Belgium said it would follow suit from midnight with a ban on planes and trains from the UK.
Alarm bells were ringing across Europe - which last week became the first region in the world to pass 500,000 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic broke out a year ago - after it appeared that a new, even more infectious strain of the virus was raging in parts of Britain.
More of the UK placed into harsher lockdowns as COVID surges19/12/2020|3min
More parts of England have moved into Tier three, meaning nearly 70 per cent of the population are living under the toughest restrictions as COVID cases continue to surge.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said earlier this week that parts of the East and the South East of England would be moved up to the most severe measures.
The move means a total of 38 million people are now living under Tier three restrictions - 68 per cent of England s population.
In Tier three areas, pubs and restaurants have to close except for takeaway, while indoor entertainment and tourist venues are also shut.
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“We have had a large number of deaths and that is terrible. That is something that brings us all suffering.
As with many European monarchs, the king’s role is largely ceremonial. His comments are therefore a highly unusual rebuke of those in charge.
The country famously shunned lockdowns and face masks, leaving schools, restaurants and shops open as authorities appealed for Swedes to practise good hygiene.
Sweden has registered more than 7,000 deaths, a much higher death toll than its Nordic neighbours.
“You think of all the family members who have not been able to say goodbye to their deceased family members,” the king said.
More areas of England moved to highest coronavirus alert level
The UK has reported 1,913,277 COVID-19 cases so far while the death toll stands at 65,520.
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People wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus as they walk past a pub in Soho, London. (Photo | AP) By PTI
LONDON: More areas of England were moved into the highest coronavirus alert level of Tier 3 on Thursday, a day after London and surrounding areas were brought under similar toughest lockdown restrictions due to the rising cases of COVID-19.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock updated the House of Commons on the fortnightly review of the three-tier lockdown regime and included Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and parts of Cambridgeshire, Surrey, East Sussex and Hampshire in Tier 3 which imposes a ban on inter-household mixing indoors with only takeaways and deliveries allowed at hospitality venues.