DENMARK was removed from the UK travel corridor list late with just three hours notice last night after huge outbreaks of Covid-19 at mink factories across the nation.
In an emergency decision the Transport Secretary revealed the news that people will have to isolate if they arrive back after 4am TODAY.
He tweeted the news out at 1.30am, with the travel corridor being axed from 4am this morning – forcing people to stay home for two weeks.
While people are banned from going away on holiday during England’s month-long lockdown, they are allowed to return home from it.
Anyone going on a break away faces a £200 fine for doing so, it was revealed yesterday.
The urgent call was taken after advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty.
Mr Shapps said: “I understand that this will be concerning for both people currently in Denmark and the wider UK public, which is why we have moved quickly to protect our country and prevent the spread of the virus to the UK.
“Health authorities in Denmark have reported widespread outbreaks of coronavirus (COVID-19) in mink farms, with a variant strain of the virus spreading to some local communities.”
Health authorities in Denmark found a mutated form of coronavirus that can pass to humans was present in mink farms across the country.
Millions of the animals are to be slaughtered after a mutant strain of the virus was discovered at more than 200 Danish mink farms.
And it’s sparked a fresh lockdown in parts of the country, where bars, restaurants, public transport and all public indoor sports will be closed in seven North Jutland municipalities.
The restrictions will come into effect from today and initially last for a month – until 3 December.
The World Health Organization said mink appear to be “good reservoirs” of coronavirus.
At least five new strains of the virus have been found – and at least 12 people infected with the virus so far.
However, the Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said about half of the 783 human cases reported in north Denmark related to a strain of the virus that originated in the mink farms.
PM Mette Frederiksen said there were now fears that the new, mutated virus posed a “risk to the effectiveness” of a future vaccine.
“It is very, very serious,” she added. “Thus, the mutated virus in mink can have devastating consequences worldwide.”
Shocked viewers were left outraged after the BBC showed LIVE mink “being chucked into a shredder” during a report earlier this week.
Denmark is one of the world’s main mink fur exporters – producing millions of furs per year.
Police said the culling of the 15 million mink should happen as soon as possible and would cost the nation around £600m.
The decision came less than 12 hours after Germany and Sweden were chucked off the travel corridor list too, forcing anyone returning to isolate for two weeks.
Ministers are poised to slash this with a new testing routine, but it’s not set to be in place for weeks to come.
