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- Published: December 21, 2020 15:19
New Delhi: As the reports of the new strain of novel coronavirus emerging in the UK came out, many countries have already suspended flights from the country.
Regarding this new kind of emergency, the Indian govt has decided that all flights originating from the UK to India shall be temporarily suspended till 11:59 pm, 31st December. This suspension to start w.e.f. 11.59 pm, 22nd December, said Ministry of civil aviation.
As a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from UK in all transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights which are reaching India before 22nd Dec at 11.59 pm) should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at airports: Ministry of Civil Aviation https://t.co/Uf5yyrQinY
— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2020
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan reassured the people of the country that the Central government is alert about the new coronavirus strain emerging from the United Kingdom, adding that there is no need to panic.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot urged the Centre to ban all flights from the country.
“New mutation of coronavirus has emerged in the United Kingdom, which is a super-spreader. I urge the central government to ban all flights from the UK immediately,” Kejriwal tweeted.
New mutation of corona virus has emerged in UK, which is a super-spreader.
I urge central govt to ban all flights from UK immediately.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 21, 2020
The new strain of novel coronavirus emerging in the UK is a matter of great concern. Government must take prompt action, prepare a contingency plan to contain the same and also immediately ban all flights from the UK and other European countries,” said Gehlot in a series of tweets.
When coronavirus had started spreading, we were late in banning international flights, which had led to a drastic spike in cases.
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 21, 2020
This comes after UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Sunday had said that the new strain of Covid-19, being seen in their country is “out of control”.
Following this announcement, several countries in Europe have taken precautionary measures and placed restrictions on the flights coming from UK.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced new tier-4 Covid-19 restrictions in parts of England, including London, due to the rapid spread of a new variant of coronavirus, limiting the celebrations.