The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced the suspension of all flights from the United Kingdom till December 31, ANI reported. The order will come into effect on Tuesday from 11.59 pm till 11.59 pm on December 31.

People arriving from the UK in all transit flights will be subjected to mandatory RT-PCR tests on arrival at airports, the Ministry’s statement added. 

This comes after several European nations have suspended air travel from the country, after a new and more infectious strain of coronavirus was reported in the country. 

Earlier today, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said the government was on “alert” and there was “no need to panic.” 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had urged the Centre on Monday to “ban all flights from UK immediately.”   

UK PM Boris Johnson announced on Saturday strict restrictions in the capital London and in much of southeast England, AFP reported. While announcing the measures, he said the new virus strain could be 70% more infectious. It has become the prominent strain in London, Johnson said, adding that cases were rising despite boosted restrictions. 

Italy has also confirmed a case of the new strain of the novel coronavirus.