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world news Diahuebs 24 December 2020
Virus-linked isolation of UK eases but backlog persists

(AP) — Gridlock at an rope has been walloped by
English port kept thou- soaring new virus infections
sands of truckers and trav- and deaths.
elers stranded Wednesday On Wednesday, British
despite a deal with France Health Secretary Matt Han-
to lift a two-day blockade cock said that another new
imposed because of a new variant — from South Africa
variant of the coronavirus — has turned up in Britain,
that had isolated Britain and announced restrictions
and raised fears of food on travel from the African
shortages. country.
Some European countries
While some goods and pas- relaxed their travel lim-
sengers began arriving on its on Britain on Wednes-
French shores in the morn- day, though many remain in
ing, many still struggled to get place. Still, it was France’s
through. With officials warn- ban on freight that caused the
ing that the backlog would most alarm and led to a feel-
take days to clear, frustrated ing of intense isolation on the
truckers scuffled with police island nation, since the U.K.
at the port of Dover. Some relies heavily on its cross-
have suggested the chaos was Channel commercial links to
a precursor to what Britain the continent for food at this
may face if it doesn’t come time of year, especially fresh
to a trade agreement with fruit and vegetables.
the European Union before Fears of food shortages added and contact-tracers were sent retary Robert Jenrick said Press. The slowdowns could
it leaves the bloc’s economic to an already glum runup to to the Dover port to adminis- around 4,000 trucks may be be worse when Brexit kicks
embrace on Dec. 31. Christmas in Britain, where ter the tests. But drivers said waiting in the county of Kent in and French authorities will
authorities have scaled back traffic chaos in the area was to cross the Channel and said have to check customs docu-
“Looking around, it doesn’t or canceled plans to relax delaying that. it will take “a few days” to test ments as well as virus tests,
really seem that there’s a lot restrictions for the holiday Rail operator Eurotunnel all the drivers. he warned.
of progress being made here,” as daily virus infections soar said some trains carrying Many Britons were already
said Ben Richtzenhaim, a fi- and many hospitals are near- freight and car passengers bracing for disruption, if the Clement Beaune, France’s
nancial services worker who ing capacity. were allowed to cross to the U.K. and the EU can’t agree European affairs minister,
drove overnight from Scot- Britain reported another 744 continent beneath the Eng- on a new trade deal by the told BFM television during
land in hopes of getting home deaths and a record 39,237 lish Channel on Wednesday, time the country leaves the a discussion about the Brexit
to Germany by car. “People confirmed cases Wednesday, while Jean-Marc Puissesseau, bloc’s tariff-free single mar- talks that when it comes to
are still not moving out of the and the health secretary said director of France’s Calais- ket and customs union in just trade, “the British side has
way, and the authorities are that millions more people in Boulogne port, said two over a week. much more dependence on
not doing something either. England would come under cargo vans have arrived so French authorities have in- Europe than the reverse.”
So it’s a real deadlock.” the country’s most severe re- far via ferry, and some truck- sisted that the blockade was The Netherlands, Belgium
Nations around the world strictions from Dec. 26. The ers have simply loaded their based on scientific concerns and Bulgaria relaxed travel
began barring people from rules, which close all nones- goods directly onto ferries so and not politics, but some restrictions on Britain on
Britain over the weekend sential shops and ban house- a colleague can pick it up on noted it may have offered a Wednesday, but dozens of
after Prime Minister Boris holds from mixing indoors, the French side. He said no glimpse of what Britain can other countries are continu-
Johnson announced that sci- already cover London and freight trucks have made the expect next year. ing to bar travelers. Japan an-
entists said a new version of surrounding areas. journey yet because of testing “We thought we were OK, nounced that it will reinstate
the virus whipping around Under a deal to lift France’s troubles, and he didn’t expect preparing for Dec. 31 (and an entry ban on most new ar-
London and England’s south- ban, anyone arriving from any until night time. The Brexit), and then kaboom, rivals from the country.
east may be more contagious. Britain is required to have a port normally brings in up to we are in chaos already,” Eurostar passenger train ser-
The announcement added to virus test capable of detecting 4,000 trucks a day. Puissesseau, the French port vices also resumed from Brit-
anxieties at a time when Eu- the new variant, and soldiers British Communities Sec- director, told The Associated ain to the continent, but only
for citizens of Europe’s bor-
der-free zone, British citizens
with EU residency and those
with a special reason to come
temporarily, such as truckers.
Liza Peirrusio, an Italian liv-
ing in London, traveled to
Paris on Wednesday to spend
the holidays with her boy-
friend.
“I’ve never been so happy to
be a European citizen,” she
said as she got off the first
Eurostar to arrive since the
weekend.
Hui reported from London
and Charlton from Paris. As-
sociated Press journalists Jeff
Schaeffer in Calais, France,
Nicolas Garriga in Paris,
Jason Parkinson in Dover,
England, and Lorne Cook in
Brussels contributed.
This story has been updated
to correct the first name of
the French port director to
Jean-Marc, not Jean-March.