India bans all flights from UK till December 31, amid concerns over 'new COVID-19 strain'

Taking pre-emptive action against new Coronavirus (COVID-19) strain, Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday, anunced that all flights originating from UK to India shall be temporarily suspended till 11:59 PM, 31 December. suspension will start w.e.f. 11.59 pm, 22 December and passengers arriving prior to that will be mandatorily tested. British Prime Minister - Boris Johnson is scheduled to arrive in India as Republic Day chief guest on January 26, 2021. Currently, India has t resumed all its international flight travel, preferring a bubble arrangement with certain countries.

CMs Kejriwal & Gehlot urge Centre to ban flights from UK amid fears over new Covid strain

Civil Aviation Ministry bans all UK flights

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CMs urge Centre to ban UK flights

On Monday, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that Government of India should take immediate steps by banning flights to and from UK in order to prevent new strain of virus transmission in India.  However, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that Central government is on alert and re is need to panic. Centre's COVID-19 team held a review meeting regarding newly found COVID-19 strain, as Italy reported its first COVID-19 positive case from new strain - a couple who h travelled from UK.

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New strain of Coronavirus in UK

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Monday h anunced that scientists have identified a new variant of COVID-19 virus which could spre faster than previous strain. Based on preliminary modelling data, New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats visory Group (NERVTAG) w consider that new strain can spre significantly more quickly and could increase R by 0.4 or more. Johnson's CMO Chris Whitty on Saturday said that United Kingdom has alrey informed World Health Organisation (WHO) about new strain of COVID-19 virus. 

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Meanwhile, European Union (EU) experts believe that existing COVID-19 vaccine candidates against vel coronavirus are also effective against new strain that is rapidly spreing across Uk except rrn Ireland. German Health Minister Jens Spahn told public brocaster ZDF that based on kwledge authorities have so far about variant, new strain “has impact on vaccines” because y remain “just as effective”. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has anunced 'Tier 4' restrictions in several cities due to rapid spre of a new variant of COVID-19 virus.