Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20201222

A30 world news
Diamars 22 December 2020

Cut off: Britain hit with travel bans over new virus strain

transmissible and is driving
the rapid spread of infections
in the capital and surround-
ing areas.
As a result, he scrapped a
planned relaxation of rules
over Christmastime for mil-
lions of people and imposed
other tough new restrictions
in the affected zone. No in-
door mixing of households
will be allowed, and only
essential travel will be per-
mitted. Stores selling nones-
sential goods were ordered
closed, putting a crimp in
Christmas shopping.
The European Centre for
Disease Prevention and
Control said that while pre-
liminary analysis suggests the
new variant is “significantly
more transmissible,” there is
no indication that infections
are more severe. Still, experts
have stressed that more in-
fections will lead to more
hospitalizations and deaths.
The Stockholm-based agen-
cy said a few cases of the
variant have been reported
by Iceland, Denmark and
the Netherlands. It also cited
news reports of cases in Bel-
gium and Italy.
(AP) — Trucks waiting to down measures in London The approval came just hours tries that suspended flights With the rollout of corona-
get out of Britain backed and neighboring areas where after the EU's drug regulatory from Britain for various virus vaccines set to pick up
up for miles and people Health Secretary Matt Han- agency said the vaccine meets lengths of time. speed in early 2021, countries
were left stranded at air- cock said the new strain is safety and quality standards. In the United States, New are clearly worried about the
ports Monday as doz- “out of control.” Experts said It is already being dispensed York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, new variant.
ens of countries around the early evidence indicates in Britain and the U.S. who has been calling on the “I think the vaccine will be
the world slapped tough the strain is not more lethal, The virus is blamed for 1.7 U.S. to halt flights as well, fine," said Dr. Julian Tang, a
travel restrictions on the and they expressed confi- million deaths worldwide, said he asked airlines flying clinical virologist at the Uni-
U.K. because of a new and dence that the vaccines now including about 68,000 in into his state from the U.K. versity of Leicester. But the
seemingly more conta- being rolled out would still Britain, the second-highest to make all passengers take new strain "is spreading so
gious strain of the corona- be effective against it. death toll in Europe, behind a coronavirus test before fast we may not be able to
virus in England. After France announced Italy's 69,000. boarding. He said at least reach the vulnerable popula-
Sunday night that it was clos- one carrier, British Airways, tion, the elderly, in time with
From Canada to India, one ing its borders to trucks from While the French ban does agreed to do so. the vaccine before the virus
nation after another banned Britain, hundreds of vehicles, not prevent trucks from en- At Germany’s Berlin and does."
flights from Britain, while mainly operated by drivers tering Britain, the move Frankfurt airports, passen-
France barred the entry of from continental Europe, stoked worries about short- gers arriving from Britain The chaos at the border
trucks from Britain for 48 became stranded outside the ages at a time of year when had to spend Sunday night in comes at a time of huge un-
hours while the strain is as- English Channel port of Do- the UK produces very little the terminals as they awaited certainty for Britain, less than
sessed. ver. The lines shrank over the of its food and relies heavily test results. two weeks before it completes
The precautions raised fears course of the day from 500 on produce delivered from its exit from the EU and frees
of food shortages in Britain if trucks to about 175, authori- Europe by truck. Eurotunnel, the rail opera- itself from the bloc's rules.
the restrictions drag on. ties said. tor that carries passengers Talks on a post-Brexit trade
After a conversation with Many trucks that carry cargo and freight between Britain relationship between the two
French President Emmanuel Around 10,000 trucks pass from the U.K. to the conti- and mainland Europe, also sides are deadlocked.
Macron, British Prime Min- through the port of Dover nent return laden with goods suspended service out of the The retail industry played
ister Boris Johnson said he every day, accounting for for Britain’s use. The fear is U.K. down fears of food shortages
understood the reason for the about 20% of the country’s that the ban will lead to a drop Sophie Taxil, a Frenchwoman in the short term but warned
new measures and expressed trade in goods. in such deliveries. Also, some who lives in London, caught of problems if the travel bans
hope for a swift resumption Meanwhile, the European drivers or their employers a train back home from Paris last for a while and if Britain
in the free flow of traffic be- Union gave the go-ahead to might decide against entering and urged everyone in Brit- and the EU fail to reach a
tween the U.K. and France, the coronavirus vaccine de- Britain for fear they won't be ain to follow the rules. trade deal. Trade association
perhaps within a few hours. veloped by Pfizer and BioN- able to get back home. “I live there and I need to Logistics U.K. urged people
He said officials from both Tech, setting the stage for the Supermarket chain Sains- go back there; my family is to stay calm and resist panic-
countries were working “to first COVID-19 shots across bury’s warned that some there,” she said. “I think that buying in supermarkets.
unblock the flow of trade as the 27-nation bloc to begin products, such as lettuce, phlegmatic British nature “If freight gets moving again
fast as possible." Macron said just after Christmas. cauliflower, broccoli and cit- suits these COVID times: today, then the overall impact
earlier that France was look- “This is a very good way to rus fruits, could soon be in Stay calm and carry on, fair on fresh produce arriving to
ing at establishing systematic end this difficult year and to short supply if the crisis not play.” supermarkets should be fairly
testing of people for the virus finally start turning the page resolved in the coming days. minimal," said Kevin Green,
on arrival. on COVID-19,” said Euro- Canada, India, France, Ger- Over the weekend, John- the association's director of
Over the weekend, John- pean Commission President many, Italy, Spain and Swe- son said early indications are marketing and communica-
son imposed strict lock- Ursula von der Leyen. den were among the coun- that the variant is 70% more tions