More and more nations banning flights from U.K. due to new coronavirus strain

France, Germany, Italy, Russia, India and Canada announced restrictions on U.K. travel, as did the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Bulgaria, Israel and Hong Kong, among others.The announcements came in the wake of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying Christmas shopping and gatherings in southern England must be canceled because of rapidly spreading infections blamed on the new coronavirus variant. A follow-up statement from the government said cargo flights weren't included in the ban.Hong Kong was banning flights from Britain due to the new virus strain, Agence France-Presse reported. "Doing nothing is negligent."President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for U.S. surgeon general said Sunday that the emergence of the new strain doesn't change the public health guidance on precautions for reducing the spread of the virus, such as wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands. Johnson said Saturday that a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70% more transmissible than existing strains appeared to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England in recent weeks. On Sunday, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock added to the alarm when he said "the new variant is out of control." The U.K. recorded 35,928 further confirmed cases, around double the number from a week ago.Italy has detected a patient infected with the new virus strain, the health ministry said Sunday night, according to The Telegraph.