European countries have begun to impose travel bans on the UK after it reported a more-infectious and “out of control” coronavirus variant. Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium are all halting flights.
The measures vary and are initially short-term. Officials say there will be an EU meeting this morning which will discuss a more coordinated response. The new variant has spread quickly in London and south-east England.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on Saturday, introduced a new tier-four level of restrictions for those areas, scrapping a planned relaxation of rules over the Christmas period for millions of people.
Top Health Officials say there is no evidence the new variant is more deadly, or would react differently to vaccines, but it was proving to be up to 70 percent more transmissible.
