Posted on: Sun 20-12-2020

The Netherlands will ban flights carrying passengers from the United Kingdom from Sunday as Britain detected a new coronavirus strain.

A travel ban will remain in place until January 1, the government said in a statement early Sunday, adding that it is monitoring developments and is considering additional measures regarding other modes of transport.

The Netherlands added that in early December, sampling of a case in the country had revealed the same virus strain as that found in the UK.

The health ministry said that a 'case study in the Netherlands at the beginning of December revealed a virus with the variant described in the United Kingdom.'

Experts were looking at how the infection happened and whether there were related cases.

In measures to control the spread of virus, the Dutch government issued a 'do not travel' advisory, unless it is absolutely essential.  

The Netherlands is under a five-week lockdown until mid-January with schools and all non-essential shops closed to slow a surge in the virus.  

The ban came after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and scientists announced on Saturday that the new strain of coronavirus identified in the country is up to 70% more infectious.

Johnson also said London and southeast England, which are currently in the highest level of a three-tier system of rules, would now be placed in a new Tier 4 level.

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