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Chaos at Heathrow as passengers scramble to catch final flights before Europe bans Brits over mutant Covid strain
HUNDREDS of passengers were pictured packed into Heathrow terminal 2 this morning, as they scrambled to catch the last flights to various countries before borders closed to British travellers.
Pictures show long queues of travellers waiting to gain entry to departures.
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There were similar scenes at the Heathrow overnight, with video footage showing the airport in chaos, as the final departure to Dublin left just minutes before the midnight deadline.
Several European countries have brought in a travel ban in response to the mutant coronavirus strain that sparked the Tier 4 lockdown in London and the South East.
France last night closed its border to all traffic, including freight, causing the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel to shut overnight.
And Italy, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands all earlier announced bans on flights from the UK in a desperate attempt to keep the new variant at bay.
Boris Johnson cancelled Christmas for millions of Brits on Saturday afternoon - telling them to "stay local" amid fears the variant can spread up to 70 per cent faster.
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The PM slapped draconian new Tier 4 measures on London, the South East and East of England, admitting “bitter regret” at axing family get-togethers.
Responding to the news of the variant, the French government confirmed that all flights from the UK would be cancelled for the next 48 hours.
A government spokesman said: "All flows of people from the United Kingdom to France are suspended from midnight tonight, for 48 hours, and for all means of transport".
The Eurotunnel also closed to all travellers from 10pm last night in a bid to contain the spread of the bug.
And the Port of Dover also tweeted: "Ferry terminal at the port of Dover is closed to all accompanied traffic leaving the UK until further notice due to border restrictions in France."
It's website added: "Both accompanied freight and passenger customers are asked not to travel to the Port. We understand that the restrictions will be in place for 48 hours from midnight [Central European Time, 11pm GMT].
"We apologise for the inconvenience and will provide an update as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience."
HEATHROW CHAOS
Heathrow Airport was seen packed as Brits scrambled to leave the country ahead of the looming travel ban.
Footage posted to Twitter shows long queues of passengers awaiting information from British Airways regarding overbooked flights to Dublin.
One social media user said hundreds of travellers had turned up to catch a plane to the Irish capital before a flight ban took effect at midnight - but were been turned away.
They : "Legitimately hundreds of people have turned up this flight. British Airways to put up everyone in a hotel and sort out a connecting flight as they won’t be able to fly directly to Dublin as of midnight."
GERMANY FLIGHT BAN
Germany, which is currently back in lockdown, is also posed to announce a ban on flights into the UK starting at midnight, a Bundestag source told AFP.
The source said Berlin will "make it official in the coming hours", and suggested the same policy could be adopted across the entire 27-member European Union.
An initial ban would last until Britain leaves the EU on January 1, but the source added Berlin is already "working on measures" to extend the flight ban beyond that date.
It comes after a German government official earlier told the DPA news agency restrictions on flights were a "serious option".
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Ireland has also announced similar measures banning flights from the UK for the first time in history, reports.
The initial ban is set to last 48 hours and began at midnight, with the Cabinet set to meet on Wednesday to decide on a possible extension.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan told Virgin News: "General travel between here and Britain is going to be restricted, and we will review it on Tuesday morning."
Ferry crossings will continue to keep supply chains moving, the Irish government confirmed.
It comes as the Dutch government earlier announced that all flights from the UK had been banned from entering Holland - with Belgium then following suit by halting flights and the Eurostar trains for at least 24 hours.
It comes after Italy and Austria also enacted similar measures, while the Israeli government this afternoon banned entry to all non-Israelis flying in from the UK.
In a statement, the Dutch government said: “Pending further information, and an explanation of the epidemiological situation in the United Kingdom, the public health institute recommends that any introduction of this virus strain from the United Kingdom should be limited as much as possible, by limiting or controlling passenger movement."
It continued: “In the coming days, it will, in close collaboration with other EU member states, look into the possibilities of further restricting imports of the virus from the United Kingdom”.
The ban is in effect from 5am Sunday until January 1.
Meanwhile, Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the country would halt flights and trains from the UK for at least 24 hours from midnight as a "precaution".
He added: "Of course, that could be extended should it appear that we have more conclusive data."
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It is understood that the new variant of coronavirus has spread to at least two other countries, .
The Netherlands is under a five-week lockdown until mid-January with schools and all non-essential shops closed to slow a surge in the virus.
Europe - the epicentre of the pandemic earlier this year - is once again seeing growing cases with officials fearing an explosion in infections after the Christmas holidays as families gather.
NO US TRAVEL BAN
But the US announced it would not ban flights from the UK despite the worrying surge in cases.
Moncef Slaoui, chief advisor to the government's Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, told CNN that officials "don't know" whether the variant is present in the country.
He told reporters: "This particular variant in the UK, I think, is very unlikely to have escaped the vaccine immunity.
"I don't think there's any reason for alarm right now."
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The areas in the new Tier 4 from midnight Saturday
Kent
Buckinghamshire
Berkshire
Surrey (excluding Waverley)
The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings
All 32 London boroughs and the city of London.
Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough
Hertfordshire
Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).
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And Boris Johnson introduced the new measures in the UK amid fears hospitals will be overwhelmed if the new strain gets out of control.
Travel and mixing households are banned under the new highest level resctrictions - with families elsewhere only allowed to form Christmas bubbles for one day on December 25 itself.
Scotland also banned travel from England - Wales was plunged into Tier 4 restrictions.
Yet thousands of Londoners fled the capital on Saturday after the announcement.
The city's stations were said to be like "war zones" as locals skipped town before the tough new Tier 4 lockdown came into effect.
Professor Chris Whitty begged people to stay at home as the rules were unveiled, warning: "If you have packed a bag, unpack it."
Withing hours there were long queues of traffic on roads out of London and chaotic crushes at railway terminals as people fled to avoid the brutal new restrictions.
In St Pancras station hundreds of people were filmed rushing towards barriers to board the trains leaving the capital.
Similar frantic scenes were pictured at Paddington station and King's Cross.
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Brits last night reacted with fury at the news Christmas was cancelled, with millions having already made their plans and shelling out for food, booze and gifts.
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Many have taken to social media to vent their anger.
One devastated user said: "I'm sorry but my family have spent money on food for my family who are all coming in the next few days. I see my family twice a year and I am absolutely devastated like I cannot explain how upsetting and disheartening this is."
Heavy traffic in London as people flee ahead of Tier 4 lockdown rules
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