European Countries Halt Travel to UK After Variant Coronavirus Strain Reported

Belgium, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands implemented restrictions for travel to and from the UK from December 20, causing chaos at transit hubs just days before the Christmas holiday.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that a new strain of the coronavirus was “out of control,” leading several European countries to implement strict measures. The new variant, spreading across London and south-eastern England, catapulted the UK into a Tier 4 lockdown, Johnson said on Saturday.

Crowds of travelers were reported at London’s Heathrow Airport on Sunday afternoon, seen in this footage taken at Terminal 2 around 5 pm. Euston and St Pancras stations were filled with passengers on Saturday as people tried to get on the last trains before the lockdown started.

As of December 20, the UK had reported 67,401 deaths from coronavirus. Credit: Bláthnaid Corless via Storyful