The UK bans entry from Denmark after the COVID mink outbreak

Britain banned entry to all non-resident foreigners from Denmark on Saturday after a mutated version of the mink-related coronavirus was found in humans.

The sudden ban was announced by the Department of Transportation overnight shortly after 02:00 GMT and took effect at 04:00 GMT.

“This decision to act quickly follows the Danish health authorities reporting widespread outbreaks of coronavirus on mink farms,” ​​Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Twitter.

“Maintaining public safety in the UK remains our top priority,” he said.

Denmark announced Wednesday that the mutation had gone from mink to human and infected 12 people in the north of the country.

He warned that the mutation could threaten the effectiveness of any future COVID-19 vaccine and ordered the massacre of all of the country’s approximately 17 million mink.

Under the UK ban, British citizens and permanent residents returning directly or indirectly from Denmark will now have to isolate themselves for 14 days, along with everyone else in their family.

No other foreigners can enter Great Britain from Denmark.

The requirements will be reviewed after a week, the Department of Transport said, just one day after removing Denmark from a safe travel list, but without an outright ban.

© 2020 AFP