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Added on the 07/09/2021 14:00:00 - Copyright : EFE Inglés
London (UK), Jan 15 (EFE / EPA), (Camera: Neil Hall).- The detection of a new variant of the coronavirus in Brazil has led the UK to ban the arrivals of travellers from South America and Portugal, while the British government is trying to speed up its vaccine program.FOOTAGE OF HEATHROW AIRPORT IN LONDON.
After an alarming outbreak of a mutant coronavirus, multiple countries have canceled flights from the United Kingdom. According to Business Insider, the move was prompted by fears around the new variant of COVID-19. The mutant coronavirus is believed to be up to 70% more transmissible than the original strain. In order to stop its spread, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that London and surrounding areas would suddenly be plunged into lockdown. Dutch authorities confirmed at least one case of this COVID-19 variant had reached the Netherlands. Flights from the UK to The Netherlands are canceled until January 1st, as are those to Belgium. On Sunday afternoon, Italian foreign minister Luigi di Maio said that the government would be suspending all travel from the UK.
Manila, May 6 (EFE/EPA).- Philippine health authorities have ramped up their effort to detect COVID-19 cases in the country as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country surpassed 10,000. (Camera: MARK CRISTINO).FOOTAGE SHOWS A SWABBING TEST POINT IN PASAY, MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, says that travel to countries in southern Africa should be suspended immediately to slow the spread of the the new Covid-19 variant of concern. She also recommends the implementation of strict quarantine for travelers from affected countries and notes that the EU's contracts with the manufacturers of coronavirus vaccines requires the vaccines to be adapted to new variants 'immediately'. SOUNDBITE