New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS): Concerned over a new strain of coronavirus in the UK that is feared to be more contagious, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged the central government to ban all incoming flights from the country "immediately".

Kejriwal made the appeal after at least five countries on Sunday banned travel from the United Kingdom.

In a tweet, Kejriwal said, "New mutation of coronavirus has emerged in UK, which is a super-spreader. I urge central govt to ban all flights from UK immediately."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on December 19 made the announcement about the new variant of the Sars-Cov-2, saying it has spread rapidly in parts of the country, and was estimated by scientists to be 70 per cent more transmissible.

Less than 24 hours after the announcement, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Italy have suspended flights from UK.

Meanwhile, alluding to the emergence of a mutated variant of coronavirus in the UK, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday clarified that there is no need to panic as the government is alert on the issue. He was addressing a press conference on India International Science Festival-2020.

Earlier, the Health Ministry called an emergency meeting of its top advisors to discuss the emergence of mutated variant of coronavirus in the UK.