The new variant of the coronavirus raging in England is shaking Europe. This new strain is suspected to be up to 70% more infectious than the previous one, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Faced with this, Belgium has decided to suspend air links and rail traffic from the United Kingdom. This decision, similar to that taken by the Netherlands a little earlier, takes effect from Sunday, December 20 at midnight. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told Belgian television VRT that the duration of the suspension would be at least 24 hours.
The sudden move comes the day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a re-containment of London, south-east England and part of the east, after the discovery of a new variant of Covid-19 in these areas. The British Minister of Health, Matt Hancock, explained for his part that the new strain was “out of control” to justify this partial reconfinement of England, which could, according to him, last until the deployment of a vaccine .
Germany too could cut links from the UK
The suspension of travel to Belgium from the UK will affect flights and the Eurostar train departing from London. Germany is also considering banning flights from the UK and South Africa, where the variant has also been detected, a source from the German Ministry of Health told Agence France-Presse. Discussions are also underway in France.
The European Commission did not immediately respond to a question from Agence France-Presse on whether such a ban on travelers from the UK would be recommended for all countries in the European Union. Such a disruption to air and rail traffic, if it continues into January, could exacerbate Brexit-related transport problems, with the UK leaving the EU’s single market on December 31, which guarantees free movement within of its borders.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
