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Finland considers UK flight ban

Officials are mulling restricting travellers from the UK to avoid a rapidly spreading variant of coronavirus.

Kuvassa on matkustajia Helsinki-Vantaan lentoasemalla syyskuun 2020 alussa.
Airports have been quiet during the pandemic. Picture shows Helsinki Vantaa airport in September 2020. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
  • Yle News

Finnish health officials are considering suspending air travel from the United Kingdom over concerns about a new, infectious coronavirus mutation spreading in the island nation.

The Netherlands, Belgium and Italy have already restricted travel from the UK, with Germany considering a similar move.

“We discussed this topic today but right now Finland doesn’t see any reason to take immediate action,” said Pekka Tulokas of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

He said any new travel restrictions would first need to be put forward by public health institute THL.

Tulokas said health officials have been closely monitoring the situation in Britain over the past few days.

“We can enact a flight ban quickly if needed,” Tulokas explained.

Flights from the North Macedonian capital Skopje to Turku meanwhile resumed this weekend after Finland’s Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom, momentarily suspended the flights from the country over a high rate of passenger infections.

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Sources: Yle