European countries halt UK flights in bid to block new Covid-19 strain

Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, has called a special crisis meeting on Monday to co-ordinate the response to the virus news among the bloc’s 27 member states (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Several European Union nations have banned flights from the UK and others are considering similar action in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England from establishing a strong foothold on the continent.

France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria all announced restrictions on UK travel, hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Christmas shopping and gatherings in southern England must be cancelled because of rapidly spreading infections blamed on the new coronavirus variant.