BREAKING NEWS: Netherlands, Belgium and Italy ban flights from the UK because of a new, much more aggressive strain of coronavirus

Update 20: 50 - Romania suspends flights to / from England

Update 20: 45 - Franta prohibit flights to / from the United Kingdom for at least the next 48 hours. Ireland bans flights from the UK

Several European countries, including Belgium, Italy and Holland, reacted to the discovery of a new strain with rapid spread of COVID-19 in England, announcing bans on passenger flights in the UK. Franta, Austria and Germany they will take similar measures soon.

The new measures came as a result of statements made by the Secretary of Health of Great Britain, Matt Hancock, who said that new identified strain of virus is 'out of control'.

The Netherlands, Belgium and Italy have banned flights from the UK

Belgium suspends Eurostar flights and arrivals from the UK starting at 00:00 on Monday. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told Belgian television station VRT that the ban would be in place for at least 24 hours.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, stated that: “Italian authorities decided to act after Britain "sounded the alarm about a new form of Covid-19, a more aggressive mutation in the virus".

A provision will be signed for the suspension of flights with the United Kingdom. "Our priority is to protect Italy and our compatriots".

Austria It also intends to ban flights, the APA news agency said, citing the health ministry.

The Dutch ban, which came into force at 6:00 on Sunday, will run until January 1.

Austria, Germany, Spain will take similar measures

Germany wants to ban all flights from the UK from midnight until January 6, Bild said, citing government sources.

The office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel will vote on Sunday a decree prepared by the Minister of Health. There will also be a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron to establish a coordinated EU unitary response to the new strain of the virus detected in the UK.

Also, Franta is considering suspending flights and trains in the UK after the new strain is detected, BFM Television reported.

The Spanish government stated that it had asked the European Commission and the European Council to come up with acommon and coordinated response"But added that"will act in defense of the interests and rights of Spanish citizens".

All this weekend fuss came after Public Health England said it had identified more than 1.100 cases of a new variant of coronavirus, which spreads more aggressively, especially in the south-east of England.

On Sunday, the WHO said it was in contact with British officials. "We will inform the public and the Member States as we learn more and have a clearer picture of the features of this variant of COVID-19.", Said the WHO. "In the meantime, we advise people to take all protective measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and to follow the instructions of the national authorities."

The news is being updated!