EU 집행위, 회원국에 '영국발 항공편•열차 금지 중단' 권고

The European Union is recommending that people from all 27 of its member nations avoid all non-essential travel to and from the U.K. due to fears of the new variant of COVID-19 detected there.
This comes as more than 50 countries have banned any arrivals from the U.K.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
With fears rising the new variant of COVID-19 may enter their own borders,... the EU on Tuesday recommended that people from all 27 member nations avoid any nonessential travel to and from the U.K. until further notice.
However, the European Commission urged for a coordinated approach,... adding the travel ban should not prevent people in the U.K. or Europe from returning to their homes.
The commission added that people returning to their home countries should be able to do so provided they produce a negative test or quarantine themselves after arrival.
It also said transport workers should be exempt from any travel ban,... when they're traveling across borders to and from a vessel, vehicle or aircraft.
It added that essential medical staff should be able to move freely without quarantine if they have tested negative within 72 hours of travel.
France will begin reopening its borders to the U.K. on Wednesday.
A deal was struck late Tuesday,... allowing French and other EU residents to return home after testing negative for COVID-19.
The lifting of ban will allow for thousands of lorries to transport goods between France and England.
However,... more and more countries are being added to the long list of countries banning any arrivals from the U.K.
This includes Hungary,... where the new strain of COVID-19 has also been detected.
According to NHK News,... Japan will also ban U.K. arrivals starting Thursday.
It plans to allow those with long-term stay visas,... but will ban any new visitors until further notice.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.