New Delhi, Dec. 21 -- Amid rising concerns over the spread of a new variant of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday announced a temporary ban on flights connecting the country until December 31.

"This suspension to start w.e.f. 23.59 hours, 22nd December 2020," the ministry tweeted. Besides, the incoming passengers must undergo a compulsory RT-PCR test upon arrival and seven-day quarantine shall be imposed upon them, the civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

Earlier in the day, chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Ashok Gehlot warned the government of the mutant strain and urged to immediately ban the international flights connecting to the UK and other European countries.

The ministry's de...