UK: The Sick Man of Europe

The United Kingdom stands shut off from the rest of Europe on Monday – over fears of the “Grinch strain”, sowing chaos for families, truckers and supermarkets just days before the Brexit cliff edge and just before Christmas.

Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland were among those that issued UK travel bans after Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) warned that a highly infectious new strain of the Covid-19 virus was a danger to the country. 

Outside of Europe, Canada, Colombia, India, Israel, Saudi Arabia and others have followed suit. 

According to one BBC News report I read today, more than 40 countries have barred UK arrivals. As the list of countries imposing travel restrictions on the UK grew, the World Health Organization sought to put the risks in context. 

WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan (left) said new strains were a normal part of the evolution of a pandemic, and that it was not "out of control". 

And UK’s Food and Drink Federation’s chief executive, Ian Wright, even warned of possible food shortages as a result of the border closures. 

He said on Sunday: “Tonight’s suspension of accompanied freight traffic... has the potential to cause serious disruption to UK Christmas fresh food supplies”. 

This is damn serious leh! 

Ex-Liverpool and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez (right) is doing well at his new club. He scored a brace (41, 58) in Atlético Madrid’s 3-1 triumph over Elche on Saturday. This means they went to the top of the Spanish La Liga table with two games in hand. 

The Uruguayan striker, making his 200th La Liga appearance, has now scored seven goals in nine league appearances for his club this season. Luis Suarez rocks! 

The victory took Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D. three points ahead of Real Madrid and Real Sociedad – at least for a short while. Real Madrid kept pace with leaders Atletico Madrid when they beat Eibar 3-1 on Sunday to record a fourth straight La Liga win. Barcelona, who drew 2-2 with Valencia on Saturday, trailed the two clubs by eight points.