COVID-19: Germany, Italy, Holland, others ban UK flights

Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Israel are among countries that have banned flights from the United Kingdom to contain a new wave of the coronavirus, which scientists say is 70 per cent more infectious than the first.

The countries made the announcement after the Dutch government confirmed at least one case of the same mutation that made parts of Britain to return to lockdown rules.

The Dutch health ministry said the case in Holland had been identified at the beginning of December and was being investigated.

The ministry said that the air travel ban from 5am (GMT) on Sunday 20 December would likely stay in place until at least January 1, 2021.

“An infectious mutation of the COVID-19 virus is circulating in the United Kingdom. It is said to spread more easily and faster and is more difficult to detect,” the Dutch health ministry said in a statement.

The UK recorded 35,928 of coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period. Another 326 deaths have been announced within 28 days of a positive test.

Europe’s biggest economy Germany has also announced it would restrict travel between Germany and the UK from midnight on Sunday 20 December. It has also banned travellers from South Africa, after the two countries reported identifying a new coronavirus strain.

A regulation is being drawn up and the federal government is in contact with European partners, a spokesperson for the German government said.

Similar measures have been announced by Belgium, which has suspended flights. Trains to Belgium have also been banned.

Italy’s foreign minister Luigi Di Maio, said that the country’s government had decided to act after Britain “raised the alarm”over a new form of COVID-19 strain.

He said that the government has a “responsibility to protect Italians” and as such “after having warned the British government, the health ministry will sign a provision for the suspension of flights with the UK.”

Also, Austria said it would halt flights from the UK, however, it had not confirmed the details on the timing of the ban at the time of publication.

Bulgaria similarly said it would suspend flights to and from the UK over the new variant of COVID-19.

Other EU countries such as France are also reportedly planning similar course.