Nations ban flights from the UK in motion to block new strains of the virus

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At least six countries have temporarily suspended flights to the UK on Sunday as the nation faces an increase in new cases of COVID-19 and a new strain of the virus moves to the south of England.

The Associated Press reported that Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Italy and the Netherlands stopped all travel to the UK except for official reasons, a move that came shortly after the British prime minister announced a new wave of restrictions for the south. England.

Italy has also banned anyone who has been in the UK in the last 14 days, according to the news service, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns of a new, easily transmissible strain of COVID-19 affecting the country.

“Given the early evidence we have about this new variant of the virus and the potential risk it poses, I must tell you that we have a heavy heart that we cannot continue Christmas as planned,” he posted on Twitter. Johnson.

“We sacrifice our chance to see our loved ones this Christmas, so we have a better chance of protecting their lives so that we can see them next Christmas,” he continued.

Labor leader Keir Starmer has accused Johnson of slowing down restrictions on assembly and shutter shops and public places in response to the new wave of infections. The UK saw a drop in the rate of new infections earlier this month, but in recent days the number has risen to previous highs. More than 67,000 people have now died in the UK due to COVID-19.

“The alarms have been ringing for weeks, but the prime minister has chosen to ignore them,” Starmer said. “It is an act of gross negligence on the part of a prime minister who has once again been caught behind the curve.”

President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenCHC urges Biden to choose Latinos to head Department of Education, SBA: Louisiana hospitalized report as a precautionary measure for COVID-19 infection Biden and Netanyahu can carefully nurture US-Israel ties. MOREnominated for surgeon general, Vivek MurthyVivek MurthySunday shows preview: US launches first doses of coronavirus vaccine; Congress concludes stimulus deal Asian lawmakers glance at Biden Labor secretary Manchin says coronavirus bailout bill to be unveiled on Monday MORE, said on Sunday that the new, more contagious coronavirus strain reported in the UK does not appear to be more deadly.

“This news from the UK seems to be about a new strain of the virus that is more transmissible, more contagious than the virus we’ve seen before,” Murthy, who was a general surgeon in the Obama administration, told Meet Press “Although it appears to be more transmissible, we do not yet have evidence that it is a more deadly virus for a person who acquires it.”

He added that there is also no evidence that coronavirus vaccines would be less effective against the new strain.

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