Spain Mulls Banning UK Flights After Virus Mutation Spread Fear

The Spanish government has expressed deep concern over the coronavirus mutation discovered in Britain but has so far resisted  banning flights from the UK.

Instead the government, called for a joint response from the European Union and announced that controls at airports and ports is being strengthened to ensure that all arrivals from the UK have a negative coronavirus test result.

In a statement issued yesterday the government said they “expect a prompt reply from the EU” and that, “in its absence we will be acting in the interest and protection of Spanish citizens”,

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, organized an urgent videoconference yesterday with EU member states to coordinate a joint response to the mutant strain.

After the emergency EU videoconference some EU countries  announced border closures to UK traffic including Germany, Denmark, Italy and France.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control report presented at the EU meeting, the mutant variation is up to 70% more contagious however “there is no indication at this point of increased infection severity associated with the new variant.”

The EU is expected to meet later today, Monday 21st, to discuss a further response measures and coordination in addition to the approval of the commencement of the coronavirus vaccine programme.