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The United Kingdom has banned travelers coming from Denmark after a mutated strain of the Coronavirus which causes COVID-19 transferred from minks to humans.
The United Kingdom issued the ban November 7th citing that a mutated strain of the virus has spread to local communities in Denmark from the mink population.
The official UK government website stated, “The decision to act quickly follows the release of further information from health authorities in Denmark reporting widespread outbreaks of coronavirus (COVID-19) in mink farms, with a variant strain of the virus spreading to some local communities,”
Starting at 4:00 am on Saturday November 7th, 2020 all visitors arriving in the UK from Denmark will not be permitted entry.
UK nationals will be able to return home but must self isolate for 14 days and complete the passenger locator form which is critical in being able to track the virus in case of any local outbreaks
How Did The New Strain Enter The Human Population In Denmark?
While it is not known where the first case originated, the new strain of the Coronavirus which causes COVID-19 came from minks in Denmark.
There are between 15-17 million minks in Denmark which will be culled to avoid further spread of the disease.
How Many People Are Infected With The New Strain?
The new strain of COVID-19 has been found in 214 human infections in 7 different municipalities.
“The virus has mutated in mink. The mutated virus has spread to humans,” said The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen at a press conference.
According to a Danish authority which deals with infectious diseases, they have found 12 examples of the virus in humans that have reduced sensitivities to antibodies which could limit the effectiveness of vaccines.
The UK Transport Secretary tweeted Saturday, November 7th, “This decision to act quickly follows on from health authorities in Denmark reporting widespread outbreaks of coronavirus in mink farms. Keeping the UK public safe remains our top priority.”
This decision to act quickly follows on from health authorities in Denmark reporting widespread outbreaks of coronavirus in mink farms.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) November 7, 2020
Keeping the UK public safe remains our top priority.https://t.co/GuoKLpUSH6
Travelers Already In Denmark
Denmark could face lockdowns, border closures and new movement restrictions as already seen in 7 municipalities in the country.
This is a developing story with a lot of unknowns at this time. Additional countries in the coming days could enact bans on travelers coming from Denmark without notice.
Travelers Planning To Visit Denmark
Travelers with plans to visit Denmark may want to cancel or postpone their plans. The new strain of COVID-19 is already spreading in the human population.
How Did This Happen?
Over 15 million mink are kept in farms around Denmark. COVID-19 originally spread from humans to minks. In a small number of cases, the virus then transferred back to humans after it had genetically mutated. The new strain of the virus then spread to a reported 214 people so far.
What Will Happen To The Minks?
The entire population of the minks in Denmark (between 15 – 17 million) will be killed. The step is being taken to stop the mutated form of the virus from spreading.
The BBC reported on November 6th, 2020 that they virus had already been found in 207 mink farms.
Has This Happened In Other Countries?
Reuters reported that earlier this summer, Spain health authorities ordered the culling of 93,000 mink at a farm in eastern Spain to stop the virus from spreading to humans.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories