LONDON (UK) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency response meeting on Monday to discuss international travel, mainly particular the flow of freight in and out of Britain, a spokeswoman for his office said on Sunday.
On the other hand, France said it would prevent all people coming from the UK for 48 hours from Sunday night, including freight carriers, be it through road, air, sea or rail. Britain’s port of Dover said its ferry terminal was closed.
The spokeswoman said, “The prime minister will chair a COBR (emergency response) meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation regarding international travel, in particular the steady flow of freight into and out of the UK. Further meetings are happening this evening and tomorrow morning to ensure robust plans are in place.”
Transport minister Grant Shapps called for Britons, especially hauliers, not to travel to ports in Kent in southern England. He warned on Twitter that “we expect significant disruption in the area”.
The travel restrictions come in the wake of many British companies, engaging in last-minute stockpiling before December 31, when a status quo transition period with the European Union comes to an end and new customs rules come into effect.