Canada the latest country to halt travel from UK over new Covid-19 variant concerns

Canada has become the latest country to halt flights from the UK following the discovery of a rapidly spreading new variant of coronavirus.  

Already more than a dozen countries across the world including Britain's European neighbors began closing their doors to travelers from the United Kingdom on Sunday.

Canada announced it will ban most passenger travel from the UK beginning midnight Sunday for at least 72 hours, reports CNN. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the news in a tweet Sunday night saying it was being done to 'protect' Canadians across the country.

The new variant, which prompted the UK government to impose a Tier 4 lockdown in London and southeastern England, and tighten restrictions for all of England over the festive period, is "out of control," Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday — the same day that the UK broke its daily coronavirus case record, recording 35,928 new cases. 

The ensuing wave of travel bans has cut off UK travelers from much of Europe and other parts of the world. It also spurred a decision to hold an emergency governmental meeting on Monday, chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a No 10 spokesperson told CNN.

The meeting will focus on the international movement restrictions, and "in particular the steady flow of freight into and out of the UK," they said. "Further meetings are happening this evening and tomorrow morning to ensure robust plans are in place."