Australia says it has detected the fast-spreading new strain of Covid-19, which is effectively shutting the UK off from the rest of the world.
Two travellers from the UK are in quarantine in New South Wales and have been infected with the mutated variant of the virus which is said to be up to 70% more infectious.
The cases are not linked to the current Covid outbreak in Sydney’s northern beaches, which has sent 250,000 people into lockdown.
It became the first cases of the new Covid strain in the Asia Pacific region.
Australia has no plans to ban flights from the UK yet, said Health Minister Greg Hunt.
There is still uncertainty about the new strain, but experts believe current vaccines should still work.
Several countries in Europe have banned flights from the UK and in the last 48 hours more nations from the Middle East, Canada and Asia have also halted flights to the UK.
In Asia, India joined Hong Kong in temporarily banning flights while Japan and Korea are closely monitoring the situation.
“Considering the prevailing situation in UK, Govt. of India has decided that all flights originating from UK to India will be suspended till 31 December 2020,” India’s Civil Aviation Ministry tweeted.
By late Monday, more than 30 nations had banned flights or travellers coming from the UK.
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Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
