Europe eases UK travel bans as US passes 1m vaccinations

  • Date: 24-Dec-2020
  • Source: Khaleej Times
  • Sector:Tourism
  • Country:Middle East
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Europe eases UK travel bans as US passes 1m vaccinations

Countries in Europe on Wednesday began easing travel bans on Britain put in place to contain a new strain of Covid-19 that UK officials believe spreads faster, as the US said it had now vaccinated one million people.

The discovery of the new strain set off alarm bells worldwide just as more countries began vaccination campaigns to halt a pandemic that has claimed more than 1.7 million lives since it emerged a year ago in China.

The European Commission urged EU nations to reopen their borders to Britain and replace the blockades with mandatory tests for arrivals.

France responded by relaxing its 48-hour blockade, allowing thousands of lorry drivers stranded in Britain a potential route home.

Under France's new rules, EU nationals and residents can travel providing they show a negative Covid test, though Britons remain barred.

Some truckers feared there was little chance of making it across the Channel in time for the holidays.

“Home for Christmas? Forget it,” said Laurent Beghin, a French driver who delivered his cargo of paint on Sunday but was still stuck in England on Wednesday.

Scuffles broke out between police and truckers complaining of poor facilities and a