More than 10 European Union (EU) member countries as well as many other countries such as Canada and Türkiye have imposed travel restrictions on British tourists in an effort to prevent the new strain of nCoV announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. is 70% more transmissible than the first strain.

Trucks parked on the M20 motorway near Folkestone, Kent, England, after the French ban on December 21.

French President Emanuel Macron on December 20 took even more drastic steps, banning British tourists from entering the country and closing the Eurotunnel border tunnel across the English Channel for at least 48 hours.

Trucks backed up outside the British port of Dover were then routed by authorities to the nearby abandoned Manston airport, which can accommodate up to 4,000 vehicles.

Logistics companies also warn that many trucks carrying necessities such as food and drinks from Europe will not be able to make the journey to the UK due to this ban.

Ian Wright, CEO of the British Food and Drink Federation, warned on the evening of December 20 that the ban `has the potential to seriously disrupt the supply of fresh food to the UK at Christmas` by `truck drivers`.

Despite the risks to Britain’s food supply, Alex Veitch, general manager of British Logistics, advised people not to panic buy.

Andrew Opie, director of food at the British Retail Consortium, said retailers had stockpiled goods in preparation for Brexit and could cope with the immediate situation.

However, British Transport Minister Grant Shapps admitted on the morning of December 21 that the risk of food supply shortages increases if France extends the ban on people and vehicles coming from the UK.

Sainsbury’s supermarket chain warned on the morning of December 21 that perishable imported food items such as fruit, cauliflower, broccoli and lettuce would be in short supply if the ban was applied for more than 48 hours.

The chaos at the UK border comes just 10 days before the end of the Brexit transition period, when new checks on goods to and from the EU at UK ports could increase waiting times and lead to

The British Prime Minister’s spokesman said on the afternoon of December 21 that truck drivers stranded in the UK due to the ban on transporting goods have been given subsidies for cleaning supplies and food.

Britain has recorded more than 2 million infections and more than 67,000 deaths from Covid-19, the second highest in Europe, after Italy.