Morocco Halts UK Flights as New COVID Strain Sparks Travel Bans

This decision follows the discovery of a new strain of the coronavirus detected across the Channel and presented as more contagious. "This decision is part of the emergency measures taken to preserve the health of populations and curb the spread of the pandemic," says a government statement released by MAP.

Before Morocco, several European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy announced that they had suspended flights from the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the re-confinement of London and southeast England after this discovery. According to him, this new strain of the coronavirus could be up to 70% more infectious than the other strains observed so far.