Over 40 countries ban UK travel over fears of new coronavirus variant

London, December 22 (RHC)-- The United Kingdom has become increasingly cut off from the outside world since Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a new variant of coronavirus sweeping his country was 70% more contagious. 

More than 40 countries have temporarily suspended some or all travel from the U.K., and British grocery stores are warning of food shortages as delivery trucks pile up on the French side of the Channel Tunnel separating Britain from the European continent. 

Some observers have compared the crisis to what the U.K. may face if a “no-deal” Brexit is allowed to proceed after the new year.  Researchers say it’s not clear whether the new coronavirus variant is in fact more contagious, and that it may have been detected because of Britain’s extensive monitoring system.