UK bans non-resident arrivals from Denmark over mink fears

British government has banned freight drivers who have traveled through Denmark over past 14 days and aren't residents of U.K. from entering England, as it tightened travel restrictions from a country witnessing widespre coronavirus outbreaks at mink farms.

Under new rules that came into force at 4 a.m. Sunday, passenger planes and ships traveling from Denmark, and any accompanying freight, also won't be allowed to dock. Freight drivers h been exempt from ban.

From Saturday, British nationals or residents returning to U.K. directly or indirectly from Denmark were required to quarantine mselves with or members of ir household until two weeks passed since y were last in Denmark. n-British national or resident travelers who h been in or transited through Denmark in preceding 14 days would be denied entry.

“Given significant unkwns regarding new mutation of COVID-19 originating in Denmark we have moved quickly to protect our citizens and prevent spre of virus to U.K,” Department for Transport said in a statement Sunday.

travel ban and extra requirements will be reviewed after a week, it ded.

Taking a safety first approach, Danish government has ordered cull of all 15 million minks bred at Denmark’s 1,139 mink farms and has put more than a quarter million Danes in a rrn region of country into lockdown. It has said a mutation of virus has been found in 12 people infected by minks.

Denmark, world’s largest mink fur exporter, produces an estimated 17 million furs per year. Kopenhn Fur, a cooperative of 1,500 Danish breeders, accounts for 40% of global mink production. Most of its exports go to China and Hong Kong.