ANKARA
Vietnam has suspended flights to the UK and South Africa to prevent the spread of a new strain of coronavirus in the country, according to local media on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered a halt to flights carrying Vietnamese nationals to both countries, Vietnam News reported daily.
The step was taken ahead of Tet’s annual holiday, or Lunar New Year, which begins in February this year.
The more contagious variant of the novel disease was first reported in Britain, with one such case being reported in Vietnam after its return from the UK.
One of the least affected countries in the pandemic, Vietnam has maintained a strict policy against COVID-19 and has closed its borders since March last year to stop the spread.
It has allowed a limited number of flights to bring in nationals from abroad, as well as foreign industry officials and experts who have been allowed to enter the Southeast Asian country.
The country has declared just over 1,500 diseases, including 35 deaths, since the uprising began.
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