GETAWAY passengers sparked chaotic scenes at Heathrow Airport as lots of of Brits seemed to flee the UK forward of Christmas beneath Covid lockdown.

Greater than 40 nations have banned flights to and from the UK and 16 million folks residing in Tier 4 have been instructed to not journey, following the unfold of a brand new mutant pressure of coronavirus.

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A scramble to leave the UK saw huge queues at Heathrow Airport

A scramble to go away the UK noticed enormous queues at Heathrow AirportCredit score: Linkedin

Hundreds of passengers packed terminals at Heathrow last night

Lots of of passengers packed terminals at Heathrow final eveningCredit score: Twitter/@TobgyYoussef

However regardless of the strict restrictions, terminals at Heathrow remained packed final evening with passengers desperately hoping to have the ability to fly.

A complete of 71 flights have been cancelled yesterday with dozens extra anticipated to be scrapped as we speak.

Some passengers have been left stranded on the airport after seeing flights axed with a small quantity pressured to sleep inside Terminal 2.

Others reported Brits not being allowed to board flights to locations equivalent to Tenerife.

In Italy, the nation’s Ministry for Well being mentioned it’s trying to hint all passengers on a flight from Heathrow to Rome after a pair examined optimistic for Covid-19 hours after touchdown.

Seven others who’ve examined optimistic since in Italy arriving from Britain within the final week are being saved beneath remark by Italian authorities over fears they could be carrying the mutant VUI-202012/01 pressure.

The brand new pressure, regarded as as much as 70 per cent extra infectious than the unique, was first detected in London earlier this month and has now been recognized in no less than six different territories world wide.

The alarming unfold noticed Prime Minister Boris Johnson announce strict restrictions and an order to ‘Keep At House’ on Saturday, triggering a wave of journey bans the world over.

Some passengers were forced to sleep in Terminal 2 after being stranded by cancelled flights

Some passengers have been pressured to sleep in Terminal 2 after being stranded by cancelled flights

More than 70 flights were cancelled yesterday with dozens more set to be scrapped today

Greater than 70 flights have been cancelled yesterday with dozens extra set to be scrapped as we speak

Passengers queued in a desperate bid to leave the UK ahead of travel bans

Passengers queued in a determined bid to go away the UK forward of journey bansCredit score: Linkedin

Mammoth queues at Heathrow as households attempt to get away earlier than Christmas regardless of 40 nations closing borders to Brits

France’s Le Monde newspaper mentioned the pressure “concludes a catastrophe yr for the UK”, whereas Belgium’s HLN paper mentioned that “chaos looms” for the nation.

Greater than 20 nations throughout Europe – together with France, Germany, and Eire – have imposed bans, as have Canada, India, Israel, and quite a few different nations globally.

France additionally closed its borders to freight lorries from the UK for 48 hours, a transfer that it’s feared might have a “devastating” impact on the availability of meals and different items in Britain.

The brand new pressure is confirmed to have unfold to no less than 5 different locations – Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Gibraltar, and Australia – however officers have mentioned it’s prone to already be circulating in elsewhere.

There have been unverified reviews of confirmed circumstances in Belgium.

Which nations have banned flights from Britain?

The information of the mutant pressure of coronavirus spreading within the UK prompted nations world wide to introduce bans on travellers from Britain, together with:

Argentina: All hyperlinks with the UK shut.
Austria: Flights have been banned from midnight on Tuesday.
Belgium: Flights have been banned for an additional 24 hours after a one-day suspension was launched from midnight on Sunday.
Bulgaria: Flights suspended till January 31.
Canada: Justin Trudeau has tweeted that flights have been quickly suspended for 72 hours from Sunday evening. Brits who arrived on Sunday might be topic to further screenings and different “superior measures”.
Chile: Flights suspended to the UK from Tuesday. Anybody who has travelled to Britain previously two weeks and doesn’t have Chilean residency can even be banned.
Colombia: All flights to and from the UK have been suspended from midnight Monday till additional discover.
Croatia: Flights suspended till January 31.
B Flights suspended from Monday.
El Salvador: Anybody who has traveled to South Africa or the UK previously 30 days might be denied entry.
Estonia: Flights suspended till January 1.
Finland: Flights have been suspended for 2 weeks.
France: All journey to the UK was halted for 48 hours on Sunday evening, together with freight, rail, ferry and air networks. Solely unaccompanied freight might be allowed by. Eurostar and Eurotunnel providers usually are not operating, whereas the port at Dover can be closed.
Germany: An preliminary air ban has been introduced in till December 31, though authorities are working to increase this into January. Freight is exempt from the ban.
Hong Kong: All arrivals from the UK within the final 14 days can have their quarantine prolonged, whereas new arrivals might be banned from midnight Tuesday.
India: All flights from the UK might be banned till midnight on December 31. Anybody who transits by Britain will mechanically be examined on arrival in India.
Iran: Flights suspended for 2 weeks.
Eire: Flights have been banned for 48 hours from midnight on Sunday. The 310 mile lengthy land border stays open right now
Israel: All travellers from Britain, South Africa and Denmark have been banned entry. Israeli residents getting back from these locations might be topic to robust quarantine, based on Benjamin Natanyahu.
Italy: Italian Well being Minister Roberto Speranza mentioned he has signed a decree “which blocks flights from Nice Britain and prohibits entry into Italy of people that have stayed there over the past 14 days”.
Jamaica: All incoming flights from the UK are banned till January 4.
Jordan: All flights between the dominion and the UK are suspended till January 3.
Kuwait: Banned flights from the UK and added Britain to its listing of ‘high-risk nations’.
Latvia: Flights suspended till January 1. Bus and ferry providers have additionally been shut down.
Lithuania: Flights suspended till January 1.
Macedonia: Flights suspended till January 31.
Malta: All flights suspended to and from the UK from midnight on Tuesday.
Mauritius: Travellers from the UK and South Africa might be banned from midnight, with anybody travelling to these nations previously 14 days can even be denied entry.
Morocco: All flights to the UK banned from Sunday.
Netherlands: All air and ferry providers have been stopped till January 1 as one new case of the mutant pressure has been discovered within the Netherlands.
Norway: All flights suspended for 2 days.
Oman: All borders have closed for 2 weeks.
Peru: All flights to and from Europe have been suspended for 2 weeks President Francisco Sagasti introduced.
Poland: All these travelling from the UK might be denied entry from midnight Monday.
Portugal: Lisbon has introduced its ban in coordination with Spain, it is solely neighbour by land.
Romania: Flights banned for 2 weeks.
Russia: The Kremlin have suspended air journey between Russia and the UK for every week.
Saudi Arabia: All borders have closed for one week. Arrivals from Europe over the weekend might be made to quarantine for 2 weeks and might be examined.
Spain: Madrid has introduced that each one non-residents and residents coming into from the UK might be banned from Tuesday. Controls on entry can even be tightened in Gibraltar.
Sweden: Travellers from the UK and Denmark have been banned from midnight Monday for an preliminary 48 hours, though Swedish residents might be exempted.
Switzerland: Flights have been suspended till additional discover. Arrivals from South Africa are actually additionally banned and ordered into quarantine, though Swiss authorities introduced they consider the mutated virus is already circulating within the nation, however has but to point out up on assessments.
Turkey: Flights from the UK, together with South Africa, Denmark and the Netherlands have been suspended.

Scientists have mentioned that the brand new mutation – dubbed N510Y – was first recognized in Brazil greater than eight months in the past, however is now spreading sooner as a part of a “constellation of a number of mutations”.

It has additionally been mentioned that the brand new pressure has solely been recognized due to the work being carried out within the UK to trek variations of the virus because it strikes by the inhabitants.

However scientists have additionally mentioned there is no such thing as a cause to assume the brand new pressure will not reply to the vaccines now being rolled out, nor essentially any trigger for concern till extra is thought.