Asia monitoring new UK strain, no flights cancelled yet

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an almost empty international departure terminal of Haneda Airport, where fewer people than usual are seen during Golden Week holidays following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Battling their own surges in coronavirus cases, Asian nations including Japan and South Korea said they were closely monitoring a new super virulent strain of the virus identified in Britain, but none immediately cancelled UK flights.

The new strain could be up to 70% more infectious, the United Kingdom has said, prompting its European neighbours and several other countries including Canada and Iran to close their doors to travellers from the country.