By Brayden Yin
Previously, France had banned trucks from Britain to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus mutation announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to be 70% more contagious. However, Britain relies heavily on France for supplies and food, with French supplies making up 20% of the British supplies.
There may be a shortage in fruit and vegetables if the borders are not “running pretty much freely”, warned the director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, Andrew Opie. He explained that the trucks have to get to other countries, such as Spain, to ship food to Britain.
Over 40 countries have set traveling bans on Britain, including France, but since Britain relies heavily on France to give food and supplies, France has relaxed the ban, but has required the truck drivers to have a negative test result, so French authorities have set up testing stations on the border of the country. This creates a problem, because thousands of drivers will be stuck in Dover, England for at least 72 hours.
British retailers have also become increasingly concerned. With the trucks stuck in Dover, the retailers have no way of receiving supplies from other countries, and there could be a shortage of fresh fruit and vegetables after Christmas.
The new quarantine order is already affecting Britons in Switzerland who have gone to Swiss ski resorts. Unlike many other European countries, Switzerland has kept its mountains open, attracting tourists from all around Europe. Swiss authorities have told people “Do not leave your room or residence and avoid all contacts”, and if they break that order, there is a potential fine of $11,250.
Although the new variant of virus is less deadly, it is more contagious and it could spread to the US.
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