Flights from U.K. canceled as health minister says COVID-19 variant is 'out of control'
- 3 years ago
유럽 국가들, '코로나19 변종 확산' 영국에 속속 빗장
A new strain of the COVID-19 virus has prompted the U.K. government to impose a Tier 4 lockdown in London and southeastern England.
To prevent the spread of the new strain, the Eurotunnel between England and France is also closing completely - to all travelers and freight - for at least 48 hours.
Lee Seung-jae has more.
Following the discovery of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus,... European countries are halting flights from the U.K.
It prompted the U.K. government to impose a Tier Four lockdown in London and southeastern England amid fears the new strain is spreading fast.
The U.K's health secretary issued a dire warning.
"The new variant is out of control and we need to bring it under control, and this news about the new variant has been an incredibly difficult end to frankly an awful year. And it's important for everybody to act, essentially act like they might have the virus."
The Netherlands banned all passenger flights from the U.K. from Sunday morning until the new year,... in order to minimize the risk of the new strain spreading further.
However, the Dutch government said the new variant has already been detected in the country.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo says Belgium will ban travelers from the U.K. for 24 hours on Monday as a "precautionary measure",... although the ban could be extended if needed.
Italy has suspended flights to and from the U.K. but the new strain has also been identified there as well.
The Czech Republic imposed a mandatory 10-day quarantine on anyone arriving from the U.K. starting Sunday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said over the weekend that the new strain may be up to 70-percent more transmissible than the earlier strain.
The nation's chief medical officer said the new variant is responsible for 60-percent of infections in London.
According to the WHO on Sunday,... it's currently in "close contact" with U.K. officials over the emergence of the new variant.
The UN's health agency says the new strain spreads more rapidly,... but it's not believed to be more deadly.
Currently there's no evidence to suggest the new variant reacts differently to vaccines.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
A new strain of the COVID-19 virus has prompted the U.K. government to impose a Tier 4 lockdown in London and southeastern England.
To prevent the spread of the new strain, the Eurotunnel between England and France is also closing completely - to all travelers and freight - for at least 48 hours.
Lee Seung-jae has more.
Following the discovery of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus,... European countries are halting flights from the U.K.
It prompted the U.K. government to impose a Tier Four lockdown in London and southeastern England amid fears the new strain is spreading fast.
The U.K's health secretary issued a dire warning.
"The new variant is out of control and we need to bring it under control, and this news about the new variant has been an incredibly difficult end to frankly an awful year. And it's important for everybody to act, essentially act like they might have the virus."
The Netherlands banned all passenger flights from the U.K. from Sunday morning until the new year,... in order to minimize the risk of the new strain spreading further.
However, the Dutch government said the new variant has already been detected in the country.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo says Belgium will ban travelers from the U.K. for 24 hours on Monday as a "precautionary measure",... although the ban could be extended if needed.
Italy has suspended flights to and from the U.K. but the new strain has also been identified there as well.
The Czech Republic imposed a mandatory 10-day quarantine on anyone arriving from the U.K. starting Sunday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said over the weekend that the new strain may be up to 70-percent more transmissible than the earlier strain.
The nation's chief medical officer said the new variant is responsible for 60-percent of infections in London.
According to the WHO on Sunday,... it's currently in "close contact" with U.K. officials over the emergence of the new variant.
The UN's health agency says the new strain spreads more rapidly,... but it's not believed to be more deadly.
Currently there's no evidence to suggest the new variant reacts differently to vaccines.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.