European countries have begun to close their doors to travellers from the UK after the discovery of a fast-spreading strain of Covid-19 in England, reports The Guardian.
As the World Health Organization called on its members in Europe to step up measures, countries including France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands announced bans on travel from the UK.
France said it was suspending passenger and human-handled freight transport for 48 hours from midnight, and that the time would be used to agree on a new testing regime in collaboration with its European Union partners.
Germany, which is suspending flights from midnight on Sunday, has not yet detected the new strain but is taking reports from the UK “very seriously”, its health minister Jens Spahn said.
A German government source told Agence France-Presse the restriction could be adopted by the entire 27-member EU and that countries were also discussing a joint response over sea, road and rail links with Britain.
Belgium is also suspending flight and Eurostar arrivals from Britain from midnight. The prime minister, Alexander De Croo, said the ban would initially be in place for at least 24 hours.
Italy’s foreign minister, Luigi Di Maio, said the government had decided to act after the UK raised the alarm about the new strain. “As a government we have the duty to protect Italians and for this reason, after having warned the British government, the health ministry will sign a provision for the suspension of flights with the UK,” he said. “Our priority is to protect Italy and our compatriots.”