Ukraine may suspend flights to UK over new COVID-19 variant

At the moment, the Cabinet is holding "emergency consultations" on this issue.

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Mykhailo Podolyak, an anti-crisis communications advisor to Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, says Ukraine may suspend flights to the United Kingdom in the near future over the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant.

He referred to practices applied by other countries in this regard, the Strana news outlet wrote on December 21.

"Especially, since a number of European countries have already decided to tighten their (entry/exit rules)," he told the publication.

Today, the Cabinet of Ministers is holding "emergency consultations" on the issue.

"Health Minister [Maksym] Stepanov has delivered an update and suggested considering the possibility of restricting flights. Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii was tasked with providing relevant calculations with regard to airports as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, the restrictions will be introduced, as this is the matter of safety," Podolyak added.

Background

European Union officials are discussing a coordinated response to a new, more infectious coronavirus variant in the UK, which has led many countries to impose travel bans.

Germany, France, and Italy are among those to suspend flights from the UK. Outbound train services through the Channel Tunnel have also been halted, according to the BBC.

Canada is also blocking UK flights.

British health officials say the new variant is up to 70% more transmissible, but there is no evidence that it is more deadly.

There is also no evidence to suggest that it reacts differently to vaccines.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the new variant was "getting out of control", while Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands announced they had already detected it.

The speed at which governments have announced their bans on travelers from the UK shows the scale of the alarm.

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