South Korea has suspended flights to and from Britain until the end of this year over concerns of a new strain of COVID-19.

Yoon Tae-ho, a senior Health Ministry official, said on Wednesday that flights connecting the country to Britain will be halted until December 31.

The issuance of quarantine exemption documents by South Korean diplomatic missions in Britain will also be suspended, requiring all travelers from the country to undergo a 14-day quarantine. They will have to take an additional virus test at the end of the period.

Confirmed patients who have recently been to Britain will be tested to verify the existence of the new virus strain.

A growing number of countries are halting flights to and from Britain amid concerns that the new strain found in the European nation could be more contagious.