Alarm bells were ringing across Europe after it appeared that a new, even more infectious strain of the virus was raging in parts of Britain.
European nations have begun to impose travel bans on the UK after it reported a more-infectious and "out of control" coronavirus variant.

Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium are all halting flights. The measures vary and are initially short-term but the French rules also affect Channel freight.

The country on Sunday reported a daily increase of more than 13,000 cases - a new record, despite tough lockdown measures being applied on 14 December.

European countries banned flights from the UK on Sunday while the WHO called for stronger containment measures as the British government warned that a potent new strain of the virus was "out of control".

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the infectiousness of the new strain had forced his hand into imposing a lockdown across much of England over the Christmas period.

Scientists first discovered the new variant, which they believe is 70 percent more transmissible, in a patient in September. And Public Health England notified the government on Friday when modelling revealed the full seriousness of the new strain.

France suspended all travel links, including freight lorries, with the UK for 48 hours from midnight on Sunday.