Turkey bans flights from UK amid new virus strain

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey late Sunday joined other European countries in banning flights from the UK and other countries due to concerns over a new fast-moving coronavirus strain.

"It has been reported that the rate of transmission has increased in the UK with the mutation of the coronavirus," Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca wrote on Twitter.

"Under the directives of our President in coordination with our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, a temporary suspension has been decided for flights from UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, and South Africa to our country," Koca said.

The move came as several European countries – including France, Germany, Italy, and Austria – announced a suspension of flights from the UK amid news of the strain.

The World Health Organization also asked European countries to redouble their health measures amid the new fast-spreading strain.