More and more countries are banning travellers from the United Kingdom because of the more contagious variant of the coronavirus that is circulating there.

British business fears that the transport of goods will be badly affected by the emergency measures in France, which also bans trucks for 48 hours.

France only allows freight transport if the load is not accompanied by people. In practice, this means that loads have to be placed on ships and the truck driver then remains behind. Thousands of truck drivers are now unable to return to the EU.

The Guardian reports that it is already warning of a “devastating effect” on the supply of food and other products. Thousands of trucks cross the Channel every day via the Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover. Chaos at British ports, including Portsmouth, is taken into account.

“We’ve already seen traffic jams on both sides of the Channel in recent days as stocks are building up due to Brexit and the crowds around Christmas,” said a director at an industry association for transport companies, the Road Haulage Association.

He told the newspaper that the French measures have a significant impact on the supply of many products. “We’re talking about everything. Parts for factories. Fresh and frozen vegetables. Orders related to Christmas.”

Travellers from the United Kingdom can also travel to fewer places by air. Poland announced on the night from Sunday to Monday that air traffic will be suspended, after European countries such as Germany, Italy, Ireland and Finland had previously announced similar measures.

This example is also followed in other places in the world. This is happening in Canada, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, among others.