Mutant variant threatens Christmas: First European case is found in Belgium as South African passengers are BANNED from leaving flight in Holland - but in Heathrow travellers are simply allowed to walk through as normal
Belgian officials said the case was detected in an unvaccinated young woman who had returned from Egypt It is the first case to be detected in Europe, and suggests B.1.1.529 may already be seeded around the world
Passengers trying to land in Holland after a long haul flight from South Africa were kept on tarmac today Stark contrast to UK, where passengers flew into Heathrow and mingled with others, were not tested for virus
Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned the new variant showed the pandemic was 'far from over'
Belgium has become the first country in Europe to detect a case of the new ultra-infectious and vaccine resistant Botswana variant as EU chiefs call for an 'emergency brake' on all travel from southern Africa — amid fears of another Christmas lockdown in Britain.
The Belgian health ministry said a case of the new B.1.1.529 was confirmed in an unvaccinated young woman who had returned from Egypt 11 days ago, suggesting it is already being seeded across the continent and is widespread in Africa.
Ursula von der Leyen called for an EU-wide travel ban to southern Africa on the back of the announcement, warning that the strain could be world-dominant in months.
The EU Commission president said: 'All air travel to these countries should be suspended until we have a clearer understanding about the danger posed by this new variant. It is now important that all of us in Europe act very swiftly, decisively and united.'
Passengers flying to Holland from South Africa were banned from getting off the plane as the continent tightened its borders in an attempt to shut out the strain which scientists have described as the 'worst variant ever'. They were eventually let off the runway after being forced to take a test and leave their detaisl with contact tracers.
By contrast, British arrivals from the variant's epicentre Johannesburg were left to mingle with hundreds of others as they flew into Heathrow on the last flights out of Africa before the red list was re-imposed at midday. Passengers flying into Heathrow revealed they were not tested or questioned about their travel history.
It comes as Britain's daily Covid cases breached 50,000 today for the first time in a month and deaths crept up by 2 per cent in a week - but hospital admissions were down 12 per cent.
Israel has also detected a case in a vaccinated individual, meaning it has now been confirmed in three continents. The Israeli had returned from Malawi. Two other suspected cases are being investigated.
In a glimmer of hope, the South African Medical Association said that all cases of the Botswana variant had been in young people and caused only mild illness. It described the global response as a 'storm in a teacup'.
But Sajid Javid warned the pandemic was 'far from over' after No10's experts admitted the new super strain could already be in the UK and make vaccines 40 per cent less effective.
In a sombre statement to MPs in the House of Commons this morning, the Health Secretary said the new B.1.1.529 strain posed a 'substantial risk to public health' and described its ultra-transmissibility and vaccine-dodging abilities as of 'huge international concern'.
Vaccines adviser Professor Adam Finn earlier raised the prospect of lockdown curbs being reintroduced, warning that people must be braced for a 'change in restrictions' if the variant spreads to the UK.
Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser of the UK's Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), warned it was 'possible' the strain had already entered Britain. She said people 'are arriving every day' to the UK from countries where the strain had been spotted.
Some 10,000 people are thought to have arrived from South Africa alone in the last two weeks where the most cases of the mutant strain have been found. Mr Javid insisted no cases of the strain have been confirmed in the UK but warned the Government is working quickly but with a 'high degree of uncertainty' and boosters could not be more important now.
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