Eeek! 

Nice one, 2020. Just when we thought things were starting to go back to normal…

The British Government has moved quickly after a ‘mutant strain’ of the Coronavirus has been detected in farmed Mink in Denmark. The UK have banned all non-citizens coming into the country from Denmark, after the new strain of the virus leapt from farmed Mink to humans in the north of the country. 

This marks the first time that the UK has imposed an outright ban on foreign visitors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 


Over 200 citizens in Denmark have been confirmed to have been infected with the mutant strain, leading to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to impose tough quarantine restrictions on around 250,000 residents in northern Denmark. 

All mink in the country are set to be culled. 

A few days ago, Denmark was quickly removed from the UK’s ‘travel corridor’ list, which allows visitors to travel freely between the two countries, without needing to quarantine. 

This time, the UK government has imposed quarantine restrictions with immediate effect. Usually, travellers are given around 72-hours notice to rush back to the UK to avoid quarantine. 

A statement from the Department for Transport said: 

“The UK government is working closely with international partners to understand the changes in the virus that have been reported in Denmark and we are conducting a programme of further research here in the UK to inform our risk assessments.” 

Many airlines have cancelled all their services between Denmark and the UK, apart from a select few who are operating in order to repatriate UK citizens and residents who still need to get home. 


As far as scientists are aware, the new strain does not seem to be any deadlier than the strains already in general circulation; however, the main concern is that it may differ so greatly that vaccines currently underdevelopment won’t offer any protection against it.

Around 17 million mink are due to be culled to contain the outbreak, and 5 per cent of Denmark’s population (who reside in the nearby area) will be placed into lockdown for at least four weeks.