Netherlands put a ban on flights carrying passengers from the United Kingdom from Sunday as Britain detected a new coronavirus strain. This ban over the travel will remain in place until Jan. 1, 2021 the government said in a statement early Sunday. The statement adds that the government is monitoring developments and is considering additional measures regarding other modes of transport.
Netherlands added that in early December, a sample in the country had revealed the same new virus strain as that found in the UK. The government has issued a “do not travel” advisory as a measure to control the virus spread, unless it is absolutely essential. The government also added it will assess “with other European Union nations the possibilities to contain the import of the virus from the United Kingdom."
The ban came after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and scientists announced on Saturday that the new strain of coronavirus identified in the country is up to 70% more infectious. UK PM also said London and southeast England, which are currently in the highest level of a three-tier system of rules, would now be elevated in a new Tier 4 level. Viruses mutate regularly, and scientists have found thousands different of mutations among the Covid-19 causing virus samples. But many of these changes have no effect on how easily the virus spreads or how severe the symptoms are.
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