Ottawa, Dec 21 (IANS): Canada is set to halt the entry of passenger flights from the UK for 72 hours amid fears over a highly infectious new mutant strain of the novel coronavirus which has been discovered in Britain, authorities announced.

"Given the high number of cases of a variant Covid-19 virus observed in some areas in the UK, the decision has been made to suspend entry into Canada of all commercial and private passenger flights from the UK for 72 hours," Xinhua news agency quoted a statement from Canadian health authorities as saying on Saunday.

The temporary ban came into immediate effect on Sunday.

Canada became the latest nation to take action against the spread of the mutant strain of coronavirus after several countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Saudi Arabia, announced restrictions on passenger planes to and from from the UK.

On December 19, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had announced that the newly identified strain of the virus may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible.

According to British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the new variant was "out of control".

By the week ending December 9, the new variant accounted for 62 per cent in London, 59 per cent in eastern England, and 43 per cent in the South East.