Numerous European countries banned traveling from the U.K., while Germany only limited some flights on Sunday. The sudden flight ban comes subsequently with the discovery of a new COVID-19 strain which is said to be 70% more transmissible, according to Public Health England.

The British government banned traveling between Scotland and the rest of the UK even at Christmas. The Netherlands banned the flights for what’s left of this year while Belgium will be banning both flights and trains for 24 hours starting from midnight. Italy, Germany, and Austria will also stop the flights from the U.K. but no details were published regarding the matter.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told CNN: "As a precautionary measure, we have decided to stop flights from the UK from midnight for a period of 24 hours, and just as importantly for our country, to do the same for the Eurostar (train) -- because that's actually the main way that people from the UK come into our country,"

Luigi Di Maio the Italian Foreign Minister tweeted that his government is preparing to protect Italians from the new COVID-19 variant and all the scheduled flights will be canceled as a result. The European government says that the flight ban order was taken in conjunction with the London lockdown and all the regions which are under a new Tier 4 level of restrictions in the U.K.

"Of course we don't want to cancel Christmas... we don't want to take any of these measures, but it's our duty to take them when the evidence is clear." Mr.Hancock said to Fox news.

The tier 4 lockdown duration is not clear yet, but it’s estimated to take few more weeks till the vaccine is available for everyone.

What's awaiting Boris Johnson?

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government will soon be facing a political rot for their decision of the total lockdown on Christmas. However, the economical consequences will be tougher, Boris Jonson announced in his briefing to the nation: “when the science changes, we must change our response. The consequences will be felt well beyond politics, social interactions, and mental wellness. They will also play out in an economic outlook that is likely to deteriorate both in scale and scope, nationally and globally.”

More citizens will suffer from the immediate economic impact caused by the Tier 4 restrictions imposed on Sunday, Boris closed hairdressers, pools, and gyms and banned Christmas gatherings and traveling between some cities including London, and the ban even reached some countries such as Scotland, people will only be allowed to meet in Christmas bubbles for one day instead of five days.

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