British virus mutation triggers alarm across Europe as more countries restrict UK travel
Trucks waiting to get out of Britain are backing up for miles and people are stranded at airports as many countries impose stringent travel restrictions over concerns about a new strain of the coronavirus.
By PAN PYLASAssociated Press
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A police officer directs traffic at the entrance to the closed ferry terminal in Dover on Monday, after the Port of Dover was closed and access to the Eurotunnel terminal suspended. France banned all travel from the U.K. for 48 hours from midnight Sunday, including trucks carrying freight through the tunnel under the English Channel or from the port of Dover on England s south coast. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Trucks waiting to get out of Britain are backing up for miles and people are stranded at airports as many countries impose stringent travel restrictions.
LONDON (AP) Trucks waiting to get in and out of Britain backed up for miles and people were stranded at airports Monday as many countries imposed stringent travel restrictions over concerns about a new strain of the coronavirus that is spreading in southeast England.
Countries across the world have halted air travel to the U.K. while France has banned trucks from entering for a period of 48 hours while the new variant is assessed. There were rising hopes Monday, however, that France would allow traffic to flow again, with truck drivers having to take rapid coronavirus tests on arrival.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the government s emergency committee later Monday amid mounting concerns over the new restrictions that could lead to shortages of food if they are not reversed soon. The government has already urged against travel to Kent, the southeastern county where many ports are located.
Lorries parked on the M20 near Folkestone, England, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, as part of Operation Stack after the Port of Dover was closed and access to the Eurotunnel terminal suspended following the French government s announcement. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A man walks past a closed shop on Regent Street in central in London, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)
Passengers wearing face mask wait next to the Eurostar Terminal at Gare du Nord train station in Paris, Monday Dec. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Previous Next
Monday, December 21, 2020 8:30 am
UK holds crisis talks as France closes border on virus fears
PAN PYLAS | Associated Press
The strain is ‘out of control’ By Associated Press | December 21, 2020 at 10:04 AM CST - Updated December 22 at 12:00 AM
LONDON (AP) Trucks waiting to get out of Britain backed up for miles and people were left stranded at airports Monday as dozens of countries around the world slapped tough travel restrictions on the U.K. because of a new and seemingly more contagious strain of the coronavirus in England.
From Canada to India, one nation after another banned flights from Britain, while France barred the entry of trucks from Britain for 48 hours while the strain is assessed.
The precautions raised fears of food shortages in Britain if the restrictions drag on.