coronavirus strain - The African Mirror

Dec

2020

World closes borders to Britain as new coronavirus strain breeds panic

GERHARD MEY and BEN MAKORI MORE countries have closed their borders to Britain over fears of a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, heightening global panic, causing travel chaos and raising the prospect of UK food shortages just days before the Brexit cliff edge. India, Poland, Switzerland, Russia and Hong Kong suspended travel for Britons after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that a mutated variant of the virus up to 70% more infectious had been identified in the country, while Japan and South Korea said they were monitoring the situation. A slew of countries have already suspended travel, including France, Germany,…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

WHO says no need for major alarm over new coronavirus strain

COVID-19

EMMA FARGE and MICHAEL SHIELDS THE World Health Organization cautioned against major alarm over a new, highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain, saying this was a normal part of a pandemic's evolution. WHO officials even put a positive light on the discovery of the new strains that prompted a slew of alarmed countries to impose travel restrictions on Britain and South Africa, saying new tools to track the virus were working. "We have to find a balance. It's very important to have transparency, it's very important to tell the public the way it is, but…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

European neighbours shut doors to Britain as new coronavirus strain spreads

WORLD

SEVERAL European countries placed new restrictions on travel to and from the United Kingdom on Sunday due to concern over a new strain of the coronavirus that is spreading rapidly there. Belgium said it would close its borders to trains and planes coming from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands also suspended flights. Italy said it was planning a similar ban. Germany could also impose restrictions on flights from the United Kingdom and South Africa - which has also detected a new coronavirus strain, a German Health Ministry official said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and scientists announced on Saturday…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Germany plans to restrict flights to and from Britain, South Africa

COVID-19

GERMANY plans to impose restrictions on flights from and to Britain and South Africa after the two countries reported identifying a new coronavirus strain, a government spokesman has said. He said that the government was working on new travel rules and was in contact with European Union partners. - Thomson Reuters Foundation.