China News Service, Paris, December 20 (Reporter Li Yang) French officials announced on the evening of the 20th local time that they would suspend the entry of British land, sea and air traffic in order to prevent the spread of the mutant new crown virus.
French Transport Minister Jebari said that night, France will suspend the entry of British land, sea and air traffic from midnight on the 20th for at least 48 hours. The traffic ban is effective for all people and goods from the UK, including road, rail, sea and air transportation. .
It is reported that transportation to the UK will not be affected temporarily.
Jebari said that France will conduct further consultations with representatives of other European countries on related transportation issues on the 21st to establish a "medium and long-term" solution.
He revealed that the purpose of France's suspension of the entry of British land, sea and air traffic is to "do its best to protect people from the mutated new coronavirus."
France is highly concerned about the spread of the mutant virus. The French National Defense Council held an emergency meeting on the 20th to discuss countermeasures and made a decision to suspend the entry of British land, sea and air traffic.
French President Macron, who is in isolation, attended the meeting via video.
Also present at the meeting were Minister of Health Viland, Minister of Economy and Finance Le Maire, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Drian.
The British government raised the level of prevention and control of the new crown epidemic in London and other places on the 19th.
British Prime Minister Johnson revealed that one of the main reasons for the accelerated spread of the virus is the emergence of a mutated virus, but there is currently no evidence that this mutated virus will cause more serious illness or higher mortality.
French President Macron, who was infected with the new crown virus, remained in quarantine at the presidential residence in Versailles on the 20th.
The French Presidential Palace said that compared with the 19th, Macron's health is still stable.
The Presidential Palace also revealed that Macron had telephone conversations with German Chancellor Merkel, European Commission President Von der Lein, and European Council President Michele on the epidemic and Britain’s “Brexit” issues.
The epidemic data released by the French Ministry of Health that night showed that France had 12,799 new confirmed cases on the 20th, and the total number of confirmed cases was 2,473,354.
The number of deaths from new coronary pneumonia in France is now 60,549, with 131 new deaths.
There are 24,993 hospitalized patients with the new crown in France, including 2754 severely ill patients.
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