A growing number of European countries are reportedly banning flights from Britain in a bid to block a new strain of coronavirus rapidly spreading in southeastern England.

According to Reuters and other foreign media outlets on Sunday, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Turkey, Switzerland, France, Bulgaria and Romania all announced restrictions on U.K. travel.

Germany said on Sunday that all flights from Britain, except freighters, were banned beginning Sunday at midnight. A source in the German government said this move could be adopted by all 27 EU member nations, with related discussions underway. 

The restrictions came a day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that London and southern England will be placed under stricter restrictions due to the rapidly spreading infections. 

Johnson reportedly said that he was announcing the move with a very heavy heart, adding the new variant of the virus is 70 percent more transmissible than existing strains although there is no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness.