New Covid Strain: Several European countries cancel flights to the UK amid fast-spreading variant

Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands have announced flight cancelations to and from the UK following concerns about VUI – 202012/01, a variant of COVID-19 which may be spreading at a rapid pace.

The different version of coronavirus may be raising transmission by around 70% and boosting the Reproduction Rate (R) by between 0.39 and 0.93. The new variant the mutation N501Y has been identified by the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium. Another British committee, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) has advised Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the severity of the spread.

At the time of writing, there is no evidence that this mutation is more dangerous, nor that it is resistant to any of the covid vaccinations that are tested or already administered. The UK put London and the surrounding area under severe Tier 4 recommendations on Saturday.