The outside world shuts the door to Britain before Christmas – Brexit and a mutant virus isolates the island country | Foreigner

Now it is not only Brexit that keeps Britain out of the European Community, but also the new mutated Coronavirus.

During the day, a large number of countries announced the closure of their borders with Britain. The reason is that a mutated form of the Coronavirus was discovered in the United Kingdom to spread rapidly.

The surprise announcement led to travel chaos and increased concern about food shortages in the UK.

The Christmas rush and the risk of a Brexit without a trade deal pile up all the problems at once – both for travelers and for delivery of goods.

India, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Russia, Jordan and Hong Kong have halted all flights from the UK.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman completely closed their borders.

Several other countries have stopped traveling from the UK, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Israel and Canada.

Queues for trucks are only increasing through the English Channel, and people are stranded at airports waiting to be tested for the Coronavirus.

Shipment is banned from the UK and parked trucks far away near Dover and Kent. 21.12.2020.
Shipping from the UK is banned and trucks are parked in a waiting area. 21.12.2020
Bild: Agence France-Presse
COVID-19, Coronavirus, Travel Ban, Truck, Traffic

France blocks one of the main traffic routes

The fact that France closed its borders to both travelers and trucks means that one of the most important transport routes between the UK and the European continent has been banned.

Families and truck drivers are still trying to find solutions that can give them a chance to go home for Christmas.

Meanwhile, British food retailers have stated that food shortages will occur within a few days if deliveries do not start quickly.

The first deficiency includes imported goods such as lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, and citrus fruits.

The researcher: “The virus is probably present in other places as well.”

At the same time, the researchers suggest that the mutated virus may already be present in countries that have not effectively detected it, such as the United Kingdom.

The new virus type has been found in Italy and the Netherlands, among other places.

In Australia, it was reported that two people who arrived from the United Kingdom were carrying the mutated virus.

Mark Van, a virologist at the Riga Institute in Belgium, spoke to the Belgian media and said that the UK is finding it easier to find mutations because this country is looking for them more.

There are countries where mutations are searched to a much lesser degree – or not at all.

I think that in a few days we will find the mutated virus in a number of other countries as well.

In Asia, the coronavirus has recently started to spread faster, even in countries where the virus has already started to improve, for example in South Korea and Thailand.

The modified virus discovery comes at a time when covid-19 vaccines became widely available around the world.

Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse