Several European countries are imposing bans on flights from the UK in order to ensure that a new strain of coronavirus, that is sweeping parts of southern England, does not reach their shores.

The Netherlands is banning flights from the UK for at least the rest of the year while Italy’s foreign minister Luigi Di Maio also announced curbs were being imposed.

It comes after Boris Johnson held emergency talks with Cabinet ministers yesterday (December 19), as scientists confirmed the new variant coronavirus was spreading more rapidly.

During a Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister announced a new ‘Tier 4’ for England, introduced to deal with areas where the spread of coronavirus has caused concern.

Railway services out of London’s major terminals saw scenes involving packed trains, platforms and concourses last night as commuters attempted to flee the capital after the announcement of the new coronavirus restrictions.

The Netherlands ban came into effect on Sunday morning and the government said it was reacting to tougher measures imposed in London and surrounding areas on Saturday by PM Boris Johnson.

The Netherlands said it will assess “with other European Union nations the possibilities to contain the import of the virus from the United Kingdom”.

Britain has alerted the World Health Organisation that the new variant identified this week appears to be accelerating the spread of Covid-19, saying it accounted for some 60% of the capital’s cases.

Viruses mutate regularly, and scientists have found thousands different of mutations among samples of the virus causing Covid-19.

But many of these changes have no effect on how easily the virus spreads or how severe symptoms are.

Belgium has also banned flights from the UK and also banned rail connections.

Belgian PM, Alexander De Croo, said he was issuing the order for 24 hours starting at midnight “out of precaution”.

He said: “There are a great many questions about this new mutation and if it is not already on the mainland.”

Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said his country would also take action.

Mr Di Maio tweeted: “As the Government we have the duty to protect Italians, for this reason, after having advised the English (sic) Government, with the health ministry we are signing the measure to suspend flights with Great Britain.”

Austria and the Czech Republic were also imposing new measures against UK flights with Prague announcing stricter quarantine rules with all people arriving in the country having spent at least 24 hours in UK territory required to self-isolate.

Meanwhile, Germany is also considering limiting flights from the UK, the dpa news agency reported on Sunday.

A high-ranking German government official told the agency that restrictions on flights from Britain were a “serious option.”

The German government, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, is in close contact with its European neighbours on the developing situation, dpa reported.