EU Starts to Ease Bans over UK Virus Strain

By Staff, Agencies

Europe on Wednesday began lifting travel bans on Britain put in place to contain a new fast-spreading Covid strain while the World Health Organization [WHO] experts were set to meet on a response to it.

Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump rejected a massive Covid economic relief package passed by the US Congress, branding it "a disgrace" as millions of Americans are suffering fallout from the pandemic.

There was however positive news in Australia, where Sydney eased lockdown restrictions for Christmas after the country's largest city reported a second day of new cases in the single digits.

The new coronavirus variant has swept the UK and spurred global panic just as vaccines are being rolled out.

But the European Commission on Tuesday urged EU nations to lift travel bans imposed on Britain in recent days.

The new strain of the virus, which has also been detected in small numbers elsewhere, appears to spread more easily than other types but experts say there is no evidence it is more lethal or resistant to vaccines.

The discovery unleashed panic that led to more than two dozen countries suspending UK flights, threatening travel chaos during the holiday season.

The European Union instead urged virus tests be carried out on passengers within 72 hours before travel.

"Flight and train bans should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions," the EU said.

France was reopening cross-border travel with Britain Wednesday but a negative Covid-19 test will be required.

The ban on arrivals in France has led to long tailbacks of freight lorries in southern England and has disrupted passenger travel in the run-up to Christmas.

The Netherlands also said it was lifting its ban beginning Wednesday but noted that all passengers, including EU citizens, must have a recent negative test to enter.

The World Health Organization in Europe said its experts would meet on Wednesday to discuss how to handle the outbreak, saying "limiting travel to contain spread is prudent until we have better info".

WHO's Europe director Hans Kluge wrote on Twitter that the organization would "discuss strategies for testing, reducing transmission and communicating risks."

The death toll from the virus surpassed 1.7 million on Tuesday, roughly a year after it emerged in China.