European neighbours shut doors to Britain as new coronavirus strain spreads

[progree]

Source: Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - European countries began to close their doors to travellers from the United Kingdom on Sunday, with several banning planes and trains over concerns about a new coronavirus strain that is spreading quickly through the country.

Belgium said it would close its borders to flights and trains - including the popular Eurostar service - coming from the United Kingdom.

Italy also ordered a suspension of flights from Britain, as did the Netherlands.

Germany will restrict flights from Britain and South Africa - which has also detected a new coronavirus strain, a government spokesman said.

Austria is also planning to ban flights from Britain, the APA news agency said, citing the health ministry.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/european-neighbours-restrict-travel-britain-140856172.html

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Spain is calling for a coordinated EU response, else it sez it will act unilaterally

[Historic NY]

1. But you can still fly from UK to the US.

[BigmanPigman]

2. We're probably doing worse than they are now.

Today the US has 55,000 new cases per 1 Million Pop.
....the UK has 30,000.....

[progree]

4. 7 day moving average of new cases per 100,000: UK: 37, USA: 65 (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps.html

U.K.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/europe/united-kingdom-coronavirus-cases.html

Wow, did they ever do a reversal, from a November 16 peak to December 3, daily average cases (7 day moving average) fell about 40%, and then from December 3 to now, they've about reached the November 16 peak.

A couple localities in the southeast (daily new cases) :
Kent (far southeast) : 88 per 100,000
Greater London: 71 per 100,000

Edited to add: At Worldometers, I get for new cases (clicking the Yesterday button to make sure I get a full day's worth)
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
U.S.A. 590 per million (59 per 100,000)
U.K 398 per million (40 per 100,000)

[DFW]

3. Unless the EU acts in unison, this is all a farce

If Belgium and NL ban flights, but France and Luxembourg don't, then it's all meaningless, since there is regular train service between France and Luxembourg and Germany. I haven't heard about Switzerland, Poland or the Czech Republic yet. But it's a one hour (or less) flight from here (Düsseldorf area) to Paris, Zürich, Basel, Luxembourg, Warsaw. Seventy minutes to Prague.

If you fly to Basel in Switzerland (the airport is actually in France) or Luxembourg, Germany is only a taxi ride away. Bratislava in Slovakia is a taxi ride from the Vienna airport, too.

If they don't all do it, the restrictive policy will be about as effective as a submarine with screen doors.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. France has banned all flights, trains and incoming ferries too

Switzerland has banned flights. And Poland and the Baltic states. And Luxembourg.

I can't find Slovakia on any list.

[DFW]

6. That makes more sense, leaves just a few open questions

Slovakia, Czech Republic and Denmark

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Czech Rep. and Denmark too

Link to tweet

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/czech-republic/entry-requirements

Slovakia doesn't seem to have done anything specific for the UK, but:

"if you decide to travel to Slovakia, you must register in advance with the Slovak Public Health Authority, enter self-isolation on arrival and take a RT-PCR test for COVID-19

if you have spent the previous 14 days in an EU or EEA country, the UK or Switzerland, you are exempt from the above requirement if you can show a negative test result no older than 72 hours.
...
A nationwide curfew applies from 5am on 19 December until at least 29 December. This limits movement outside the home except for specified purposes. "

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/slovakia

[DFW]

9. Good timing

I just got a call that I am needed tomorrow outside of Sprout City. I hope I don't get hassled going into Belgium or coming back to Germany in the afternoon.

[electric_blue68]

7. As far as I heard earlier in the eve only US...

citizens, and ? "registered aliens" were being allowed in .


But since how many of them would be willing to self quarantine for 14 days. ...
this sucks! 🤬

[a la izquierda]

10. It's an utter wreck here.

I wasn't planning to leave the UK, but so many friends have never spent a Christmas away from home and they're understandably sad and frustrated. Some paid for required PCR tests to be allowed into their home countries, and these aren't cheap for anyone, let alone post-grad students.
In my little corner of England (Colchester), we are doing well, but I've noticed the shops are more crowded as people from surrounding areas try to do Christmas shopping.

My flatmates and I will have a nice Christmas, bigger than we expected, as some flatmates now can't travel home to Holland and Russia.