India has suspended all flights to the UK following concern over the new strain of the novel coronavirus that is supposed to be 70 per cent more transmissible.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation in a statement said that considering the prevailing situation in the UK, the Indian government has decided to suspend all flights originating from the country to India till 11:59 pm on December 31.
“This suspension is to start with immediate effect from December 22,” a report quoted the ministry’s statement.
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Several nations of the European Union have cancelled flights to the UK after news of the new Covid-19 strain emerged.
Union health minister Harsh Vardhan had however said that there is no reason to panic regarding the new mutated strain of the virus as the government is keeping a close tab on the latest developments regarding it.
The health ministry has also discussed the issue with top advisors during an emergency meeting.
UK health secretary Matt Hancock has said that London could be under months of lockdown, as it is very difficult to contain the spread of the highly infectious mutant strain until Covid-19 vaccines are rolled out. The British government will review the new set of restrictions on December 30.
