'Not Again' New York State Adds Entry Ban on UK Arrivals Amid Spread of COVID-19 Variants

Proactive Response to Spread of UK COVID-19 Variant
Concerns Over Recurrence of Europe-Origin Infection Spread Damage
Governor Kuumo Urges "Federal Government to Take Action"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The state of New York in the United States has taken measures to restrict the entry of travelers from the UK due to the spread of a mutated novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Attention is focused on whether entry restrictions for travelers from the UK will spread in the US following Europe.

On the 21st (local time), the Associated Press reported that British Airways and the state of New York have agreed to board only passengers who have tested negative for COVID-19 on flights bound for New York.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March, the US has banned entry of travelers from 26 European countries including the UK. According to this measure, even US citizens must test negative for COVID-19 to enter the United States.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced at a press conference on the same day that he requested voluntary testing measures for passengers from the UK from Delta and Virgin Airlines following British Airways.

Governor Cuomo warned, "Six flights arrive daily from the UK. If airlines refuse, the state of New York will consider other measures." Cuomo's warning is interpreted to include strong measures such as entry bans.

Governor Cuomo also emphasized in a statement a day earlier, recalling that European countries such as France have completely banned entry from the UK, saying, "The US government must take swift action."

Governor Cuomo's remarks are seen as a measure considering that the reason New York became a major infection area in the US early in the COVID-19 outbreak was due to the failure to promptly control travelers coming from Europe across the Atlantic Ocean.

New York University and Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine analyzed viruses collected from COVID-19 patients in New York since mid-March and found that the majority were infected with viruses from Europe.