Korea extends UK flight ban for two more weeks

Passengers arrive at JFK International Airport in New York City from a flight from London last week, amid new restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Reuters-Yonhap

The government decided Wednesday to extend its suspension of direct flights from Britain for two more weeks to block a more transmissible coronavirus variant first detected there from entering the country.

The health authorities have confirmed a total of 11 cases of the new strain, most recently two cases Tuesday, and one case of a separate variant spreading in South Africa.

“The ban on flights from Britain has been extended for two weeks until Jan. 21,” the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

Initially imposed Dec. 23, the flight ban was until the end of the year, but was extended Dec. 28 until Thursday.

The KDCA reported 840 more COVID-19 cases for Tuesday, including 809 local infections, raising the total caseload to 65,818.

The daily cases stayed below 1,000 for the second consecutive day amid signs of a slowdown, while nursing homes and churches continued to be hot spots for COVID-19 virus outbreaks despite extended curbs to contain the corona virus. (Yonhap)