Britain Cut Off By The World As New Covid-19 Strain Mutates

The United Kingdom is banned from countries around the world following a new mutation of the Coronavirus.

As we reported, on Sunday (Dec. 20), another strict emergency lockdown went into effect in London and southeast England. The current ban, part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson‘s attempt to control the fast-spreading new strain, bans household mixing in the capital and the southeast, and restricts socializing up until Christmas Day across the rest of England.

Countries including Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Iran, Colombia and Morocco, have suspended flights from the U.K. for at least 48 hours, with Saudi Arabia completely closing its borders.

The new strain of the virus is reportedly 70 percent more transmissible than others.

NPR’s Frank Langfitt said on NPR’s Morning Edition this way, “It feels much more isolated than it did just a few days ago here on the island of Great Britain.”

“The Eurotunnel, which also runs under the channel, is also closed. It seems to be a precautionary measure for about 48 hours,” Langfitt said. “There’s a lot of concern around the Christmas season. We’ve already seen backups at the Port of Dover 20 miles long. And what’s been happening is people are trying to get freight across the channel before the deadline of the Brexit transition period, which is going to end on New Year’s Eve.”