European countries - and some beyond the continent - are restricting travel from the United Kingdom amid mounting fears over an infectious new strain of the novel coronavirus first detected in England.
Austria, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Germany, France and the Netherlands announced bans Sunday, with others expected to follow. Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have also temporarily suspended flights departing from or arriving in the United Kingdom.
British officials have reported that a mutation of the virus appears to speed its transmission, and they have imposed restrictions on 18 million people in London and across southern England.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC on Sunday that "the new variant is out of control."
The new strain also has been found in Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands, the BBC reported.
Italy's Health Ministry confirmed Sunday night that scientists had detected the U.K. mutation in a person who returned to Italy from Britain "in the last few days." The ministry's statement said that the person and close contacts were in isolation. (Source: The Washington Post)
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