Europe Tightens Restrictions as Coronavirus Mutates in the UK

Belgium interrupts air and rail communication with Great Britain. A number of other countries have announced their readiness to take similar steps. The Czech Republic has tightened quarantine for arrivals from the United Kingdom. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on European countries to strengthen restrictive measures due to a new strain of coronavirus spread. The representative of the AFP agency WHO Regional Office for Europe made the corresponding statement on Sunday, December 20. According to it, carriers of the new strain have as well been identified outside the UK: nine in Denmark, one in the Netherlands and one in Australia. “Across Europe, where transmission of the virus is intense and widespread, countries should redouble their efforts to control and prevent it,” she said. Belgium interrupts air and rail communications with Great Britain Meanwhile, it has already become known that Belgium will interrupt air and rail communications with the United Kingdom from 00.01 local time (02.01 Moscow time) on December 21. This announced Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on the air of the Flemish public broadcaster VRT. The restriction will affect, in particular, high-speed passenger trains Eurostar, that connect Brussels and London. The measure was introduced for at least 24 hours, however, if necessary, it can be extended. The Belgian authorities are also in contact with their French counterparts on the issue of UK transit passengers. Czech Republic has tightened quarantine In turn, the Czech Republic has already introduced stricter quarantine restrictions for arrivals from the UK, AP reported. Austria has announced preparing to interrupt air communication with the United Kingdom but has not yet named a specific timeframe, according to APA. The French authorities are expected to make a statement by the end of the day on December 20, BFM reported. Italy will resort to a similar measure. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio wrote about this on Facebook. "The UK has issued a warning regarding the new COVID-19 strain," Di Maio said. "It is our government's duty to protect Italians and for this reason ... we will sign a decree with the Minister of Health to suspend flights to and from the UK," he promised, without specifying, however, when would the measure take effect. Germany assesses risks Germany is exploring the possibility of taking appropriate measures as well. Restrictions on flights from the UK and South Africa, where a new strain has also been identified - "a seriously considered option," the n-tv news channel reported, citing circles in the federal health ministry. German experts are closely following events development, are in contact with neighboring European countries and are working in full force to assess information about a possible virus mutation. London introduces lockdown As for the UK itself, a lockdown is being introduced there in London and southeast England. This announced Minister of Health and Human Affairs Matt Hancock. In fact, they were banned from meeting other families at Christmas. Hancock warned that stringent measures, which have affected nearly a third of England's population, could continue until a full vaccination campaign is launched. “We acted very quickly and decisively,” Hancock said in an interview with Sky News, justifying the “stay at home” order, banning family gatherings on holidays and closing non-critical stores. The Netherlands no longer accepts planes from the UK Earlier, the Dutch authorities ordered not to accept planes from the UK due to the new strain of coronavirus spread out there. The ban was introduced from 06.00 (08.00 Moscow time) on December 20 and will be valid at least until January 1. According to the National Institute of Health in the Netherlands, the country had previously discovered the first case of infection with a new mutated type of coronavirus. Coronavirus mutation This is a strain that is currently spreading rapidly in the UK and was first identified in early December. On December 19, chief physician of the UK Chris Whitty told about the rapid spread of the new species of SARS-CoV-2 across the country. This virus mutation is probably more contagious, he said, but there is no evidence yet that it leads to more deaths or affects the effects of vaccines or treatments. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Whitty's words. WHO was reported on the situation.