Cyprus Mail 20 December 2020 - by Reuters News Service
France is considering suspending flights and trains from Britain after a new coronavirus strain was detected there, BFM Television reported on Sunday.
An official decision was expected later on Sunday, BFM said without citing sources.
Officials at the transport ministry were not immediately available for comment.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and scientists announced on Saturday that a new strain of coronavirus identified in the country was up to 70% more infectious than the original version.
The Netherlands said it will ban flights carrying passengers from the United Kingdom from Sunday.
Belgium will also close its borders to planes and trains coming from the United Kingdom to prevent importing a new strain of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told the VRT broadcaster on Sunday.
The ban on incoming travel from Britain covers Eurostar services via the Channel Tunnel and will take effect for at least 24 hours from midnight on Sunday, VRT said.
Belgium was also in touch with France over road transit passengers from Britain, VRT said, a day after the neighbouring Netherlands also banned flights carrying passengers from Britain over coronavirus.
Italy on Sunday also announced the suspension of UK flights, Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio said in a Facebook post.
“As a government we have the duty to protect Italians, for this reason, after having notified the British government, with the Ministry of Health we are about to sign the provision to suspend flights with Great Britain,” Di Maio said. “Our priority is to protect Italy and our compatriots.”
Germany could impose restrictions on flights from the United Kingdom and South Africa – which has also detected a new coronavirus strain – a German Health Ministry said on Sunday.
