France: Expert discusses Macron’s statement as lockdown eases
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France has announced the decision to increase measures on travel in an effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 variant first identified in India. The new rules implemented include travellers coming in by air, car, ferry and train, while the restrictions cover everyone regardless of vaccination status. The Consulate General of France in London wrote on its website: “Given the development of the so-called Indian variant, health measures have been tightened for people travelling to France from the UK.” The information added that from Monday morning “compelling reasons will be required for foreign nationals outside the European Union resident in France to travel to France from the UK”.
The new rules came into effect on Monday and include:
- Entry to France limited to EU nationals, French residents and those travelling for essential purposes
- Permitted travellers must test negative for Covid before leaving their departure country
- Travellers must also isolate for seven days after they arrive in France
- Travellers must sign a declaration saying they don’t have Covid symptoms and they’re not aware of having been in contact with someone who has the virus in the 14 days before their departure
- Travellers must sign a declaration saying they will isolate on arrival in France for seven days and that they will take a second PCR Covid test after
The Consulate website adds that “a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required from anyone travelling to France from the UK”, while on arrival “travellers are obliged to self isolate for seven days”.
The rules for people arriving in the UK from France haven’t changed, and it’s still an amber list destination.
That means the Government advises anyone against travelling there unless it’s absolutely essential.
Those who do go to France must isolate for 10 days and take two COVID-19 tests when they get back to the UK.
When can I travel to France?
The new rules for France came into force at midnight on Sunday, as the country joins Austria and Germany in tightening rules for Brits.
However, it could be good news for those eager to get back across the Channel, as one travel expert suggested the French move would just be a temporary one.
Paul Charles, chief executive of the PC Agency, said: “This is hopefully only a very short term measure from France until it becomes clear how the Indian variant is behaving in the UK.
“So I don’t expect it to last too long and it should be removed later in June.
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“Countries in Europe are beginning to worry about the extent of the variant and as the UK had such advanced testing capability it needs to publish its data as soon as possible in order to reassure other countries.
“But I don’t expect this to last more than a month so I don’t expect this to impact the summer season.
“I think we will be in a different place by the middle of June.”
British tourists had been due to be allowed into France without restrictions from June 9 if they carried a certificate of vaccination against Covid or a negative PCR test.
The news from France comes as Carolina Darias, Health Minister of Spain, defended the move to put the UK on the country’s safe list of destinations and exempt Brits from providing vaccine proof or negative Covid tests.
Ms Darias said: “We will keep tabs on the situation, but the conditions to open up tourism are here.
“That is especially true for British tourism, with the UK being one of the countries with most influence in our tourism market which is a fundamental part of our economy.”
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