The government is yet to take a decision on the suspension of flights with the United Kingdom, amid the outbreak of a new variant of Covid-19 in the European nation.
"We are monitoring the matter and will make a decision soon,” said Mohibul Haque, senior secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, during a press briefing at the secretariat on Tuesday afternoon.
“A new variant of coronavirus has been discovered in the UK and it is spreading fast. That is why many countries of the world are worried about this issue and at the same time we are also worried,” he added.
“Many countries have cut off their air connectivity with London. However, Bangladesh has not yet taken any decision on this issue. We are keeping a close eye on the matter. We will inform everyone about the decision in time,” the senior secretary further said.
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British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday that the government has imposed a strict Christmas lockdown in London and southeast England because a new variant of the coronavirus was "out of control."
Hancock warned that the strict measures could stay in place until the virus vaccine is fully rolled out, reports AFP.
Susan Hopkins of Public Health England told Sky News that the agency notified the government on Friday when modelling revealed the full seriousness of the new strain.
She confirmed that the new virus strain could be 70% more transmissible, while saying this was an initial figure.
