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France: Imposes restrictions on travelers from Britain due to Omicron

LAST UPDATE: 13:43

France will step up controls on travelers arriving in the country from Britain, government spokesman Gabriel Atal said today following an increase in cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus observed in the United Kingdom.

He told BFM television that the measures, to be announced later in the day by the prime minister’s office, would include a reduction in PCR tests from 24 to 48 hours for travelers arriving from Britain.

“We will put in place a control system … even more drastic than today,” he told the station.

“Tourism and business travel for those who are not French nationals or Europeans, who are not permanent residents of France, will be restricted.”

Travelers from Britain arriving in France will have to be quarantined for seven days although the isolation will be lifted after 48 hours if the test they take in France is negative.

To date, these restrictions have only applied to unvaccinated travelers from Britain.

The new measures will take effect at midnight on Saturday. “It will take a serious reason to travel to and from the UK, whether unvaccinated or vaccinated … People will not be able to travel for tourism or business,” a government statement said.

“Our strategy is to delay as much as possible the development of Omicron in our country and to take advantage of pushing for a boost,” Atal said, adding that there are currently 240 confirmed cases in France.

The latest figures released Wednesday show that the number of COVID-19 infections in the UK has reached its highest daily level since the pandemic began in early 2020 with more than 78,000 cases reported.

Strict travel restrictions are being imposed during a period when analysts say there is a lack of confidence between the British and French governments in the aftermath of Brexit on a range of issues – from immigration to fishing permits.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron accused British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of violating his Brexit commitments, saying “the problem with the British government is that it does not do what it says.”

Meanwhile, kilometers of queues formed today on the main road leading to the British port of Dover, according to a Reuters reporter, but the reason is not clear.

However, the British Minister of Transport, Grand Saps, wrote on Twitter that he has contacted his French counterpart, Jean-Baptiste Jembari, to confirm that the drivers of trucks carrying products will be excluded from the new travel restrictions of France.

Source: AMPE

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Source From: Capital

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