New strain of Covid-19: several European countries suspend their links with the United Kingdom
The Dutch government has suspended, until January 1, all passenger flights from the United Kingdom after the discovery in the Netherlands of a case of contamination by a variant of the coronavirus circulating in part of British territory (illustrative image).
© Institut Pasteur - Coronavirus, agent of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)
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The Netherlands and Belgium decided Sunday, December 20 to suspend all flights from the United Kingdom after the discovery in this country of a new "out of control" variant of the coronavirus, while Germany was "seriously considering To take similar measures.
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The new strain of the new coronavirus was "
out of control
", acknowledged Sunday, December 20 the British Minister of Health, Matt Hancock, thus justifying a re-containment of London and part of England, which could, according to him, last until a vaccine is deployed.
The reconfigurations decided in London and in the south-east of England come as
the end of the year holidays approach
, Italy is completely reconfigured and other European countries are toughening the measures taken to to contain the third wave of the threatening pandemic.
The Dutch government has suspended, until January 1, all passenger flights from the United Kingdom after the discovery in the Netherlands of a case of contamination by a variant of the coronavirus circulating in part of British territory .
Belgium is suspending flights and trains from the United Kingdom from midnight Sunday.
As for Germany, it was "
seriously
" considering Sunday a suspension of flights from not only the United Kingdom but also South Africa after the discovery of a variant of Covid-19 in these countries.
A major disruption of air traffic
"
Restrictions on air traffic from Great Britain and South Africa are a serious option
" examined by Berlin, said a source close to the Ministry of Health.
A new variant of the coronavirus, the "501.V2" was detected in South Africa, which could explain the speed of the transmissions of this second wave also affecting younger patients, announced Friday evening the Minister of Health, Zwelini Mkhize.
Such a disruption to air and rail traffic, if continued into January, could exacerbate Brexit-related transport problems, with the UK leaving the EU's single market on December 31, which guarantees free movement to the within its borders.
The suspension of links was imposed all the more as the British Minister of Health himself admitted that "
unfortunately, the new strain was out of control
".
“
We had to take back control, and the only way to do that is to restrict social contact,
” Matt Hancock told
Sky News
.
"
It will be very difficult to keep it under control until a vaccine is deployed,
" he said.
England on high alert
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday that initial data showed the virus circulating in London and south-east England is up to 70% more contagious than the previous strain.
Already subject to severe restrictions, the inhabitants of the capital and the south-east of England will be placed under a
new level of alert
, the fourth, the highest.
They will be instructed to stay home and non-essential businesses will no longer be able to reopen after lowering their curtains on Saturday, putting an end to last-minute Christmas shopping.
The pubs, restaurants and museums were already closed there since the previous weekend.
Reconfinement in Italy
Italy which, along with the United Kingdom, is the country in Europe hardest hit by the pandemic with more than 68,000 dead, will also be reconfigured for the holidays.
"
Our experts fear that the contagion curve will increase during the Christmas period
", explained the head of government Giuseppe Conte.
All of
Italy will be classified "red" for the holidays
, but Italians will have the right to leave their homes to participate in a family meal in limited numbers, a decree issued on Saturday announced.
Switzerland on Saturday became the first country in continental Europe to authorize a vaccine against Covid-19, Pfizer / BioNTech.
A decision taken after the green light given to the same vaccine by more than 15 other countries, including the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Kingdom, Jordan, Singapore and Mexico.
Vaccinations in the EU
In the EU, the vaccination campaign is expected to start on December 27, 28 and 29, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Medicines Agency will look into the fate of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Monday, which should be authorized within two days by the European Commission.
The review, and possible authorization, of the Moderna vaccine has been brought forward by one week, to January 6.
US clears Moderna vaccine
In the United States, the Federal Medicines Agency (FDA) on Friday granted urgent
authorization for the vaccine from the biotechnology firm Moderna
and the first doses began to be sent to various points in this country on Saturday, said the head of the operation for the US government.
The United States is facing a dramatic rebound in the epidemic, with more than 316,202 dead and more than 17.65 million confirmed cases of Covid-19.
The pandemic has killed at least 1.68 million people worldwide, according to an AFP report on Sunday.
Behind the United States, Brazil is the most bereaved country with 186,356 dead for 7.21 million cases.
India surpassed 10 million cases on Saturday and has 145,477 dead.
►
To read: Covid-19: start of vaccination campaigns in the EU from December 27
(With
AFP
)
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