UK warns new strain of COVID-19 virus ‘out of control’, lockdown imposed, flights banned

Dec. 20: The United Kingdom (UK) has recorded its highest ever daily rise in coronavirus infections, with 35,928 new Covid-19 cases reported on Sunday. This brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK to more than 2.04 million. U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the new strain of the coronavirus is “out of control.”

As the World Health Organization urged its European members to strengthen measures against a new variant of Covid-19 circulating in Britain, European countries banned flights from the UK on Sunday. The government faced criticism for imposing an effective lockdown just days before Christmas, but Matt Hancock said the decision was taken speedily after new evidence showed the new strain was responsible for spiralling COVID-19 cases.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the infectiousness of the new strain had forced his hand into imposing a lockdown across much of England over the Christmas period. Scientists first discovered the new variant — which they believe is 70 percent more transmissible — in a patient in September. Outside Britain, nine cases of the new strain have been reported in Denmark, as well as one case in the Netherlands and another in Australia, according to the WHO.

Hancock said that as of Saturday morning 350,000 people had been vaccinated, with the ambition to reach 500,000 by the end of the weekend.