Ottawa is considering support for the new COVID-19 variant in a call to ban travel from the UK

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other members of his cabinet are meeting in a closed room to discuss Canada’s response to a new variant of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.

Federal Health Minister Patty Haidu said in a Twitter message this afternoon as many European countries closed their borders with Britain due to a new variant that was allegedly more contagious.

Trudeau’s office later confirmed a so-called incident response group meeting.

Bloc Québécois leader Eve François Blanche has asked Ottawa to follow their lead and suspend flights from the United Kingdom.

The Trudeau government did not answer a question from the Canadian Press as to whether Canada was considering a travel ban.

France said it would ban all people from the United Kingdom, including freight carriers, by road, air, sea or rail, for 48 hours starting Sunday night.

Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have ordered the suspension of flights from the United Kingdom, but Ireland said it will impose restrictions on flights and ferries from nearby areas.

Belgium said it would close the borders of flights and trains, including the popular Eurostar service from the UK.

“The recently discovered variant of COVID in London is worrisome and needs to be investigated by scientists,” said Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza.

“In the meantime, we choose the path of utmost caution.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that the new variant has led to a surge in infections. His government has tightened COVID-19 restrictions on London and its surrounding areas, overturning plans to ease restrictions during Christmas.

Travel restraints are also exacerbating the problem, as the UK finally leaves the European Union on 31 December after this year’s transition period. London and Brussels have so far failed to reach post-Brext trade agreements, increasing the potential for commodities transport disruptions.

The German government has stated that all flights from the UK will be suspended from midnight.

“It (virus mutation) has not yet been confirmed in Germany,” Health Minister Jens Spahn told public broadcaster ARD. “But of course, we take the report from the UK very seriously.”

Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander de Crew said the ban on entry from the UK would cover Eurostar services via the Channel Tunnel and would be valid for at least 24 hours from midnight on Sunday, broadcaster VRT said.

The Italian order blocked all flights departing the UK and banned anyone passing through the UK from entering Italy in the last 14 days.

The Dutch government has banned flights carrying passengers from the United Kingdom from Sunday, saying the restrictions are valid until January 1.

Austria is also planning to ban flights from the UK, APA news agency quoted the Ministry of Health. Sweden said it is preparing a decision to ban entry from the United Kingdom.

Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have also announced plans to ban flights from the United Kingdom.

Last ticket

At Eurostar’s terminal, St Pancras International Station in London, thousands of travelers sought to secure a place on the train.

“I got the last two tickets for today,” said a Frenchman named Lenny. “We had tickets for Monday and Tuesday respectively. But given the situation and what’s going on, we didn’t want to take the risk. And we can. Was the last person. “

A new variant of the United Kingdom has added a twist to the fight against viruses in many European countries.

The number of cases of coronavirus in the United Kingdom surged 35,928 on Sunday, the largest increase of the day since the start of the pandemic, recording 326 deaths and more than 67,000 official casualties.

In addition to the measures announced for the UK, other UK countries controlling their own anti-coronavirus policies have tightened regulations. Scotland has banned travel to other parts of the UK.

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