After various European countries, Canada has also imposed travel bans on the United Kingdom after a more-infectious COVID-19 variant has been reported in the country.

The other prominent countries, who have banned travel to and from the UK, are France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and Holland.

The European Union has taken up the issue at its meeting for discussion on more coordinated response against the UK under its banner.

UK reports new strain of COVID-19

The new strain of coronavirus has spread in London and some other parts of England. Scientists believe that this variant has the potential to spread up by 70 percent more because of its high speed, however mortality rate of the new coronavirus is lower as yet.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the new strain “was out of control. We have got to get it under control”, admitting that this was “an incredibly difficult end to frankly an awful year”.

The UK has made coronavirus restrictions tougher in the areas where more daily cases were being reported.

The new variant has been named VUI – the first variant under investigation (Dec 2020). The English scientists have submitted their findings in this regard to the World Health Organisation.

62 percent of the news cases in London the following month are due to the new strain.