In addition to the current rules imposed on all travelers to France from the UK, the French government could toughen the protocol. Gabriel Attal, the official government spokesman, told France Info radio on Tuesday morning that authorities would unveil new rules later this week.
He said: “We are looking at how we could strengthen our framework, and that’s the work in progress right now, and I think it could be completed in a few days.”
There are now at least 133 Omicron cases in France, according to Mr Attal.
However, the actual number is likely higher because not all positive cases are tested for the variant.
Now, traveling to France from the United Kingdom requires a negative Covid test (PCR or antigen) carried out within 48 hours of the time of departure for all travelers over the age of 12 regardless of their vaccination status.
Stricter restrictions could mean additional PCR testing on arrival in France, paid for by UK travelers themselves.
This new rule would be similar to the one travelers to the UK already face.
They must take a pre-departure test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result from a post-arrival PCR test in the UK.
Last week, France ordered nightclubs closed for four weeks to combat the spread that has strained hospitals across the country.
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More passengers are canceling or rearranging planned trips than booking new ones for the Christmas and New Years period, Eurostar said.
Mr Damascus said in a statement: “We understand and support the need for governments to take action against COVID-19 to protect public health.
“However, as the government itself confirmed last week, the Omicron variant is likely to be dominant in the UK very soon, making the additional travel restrictions rather redundant.
“It comes at a high price to the industry and results in unwanted additional cost to passengers at an expensive time of year. “
The CEO of Eurostar insisted that there were already “solid measures in place to allow those who need them to travel safely”.
He added: “We therefore call on governments to urgently remove additional testing which has an unfair impact on the travel industry and our passengers who seek to reunite with friends and family over the Christmas period.”
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Source: www.express.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-12-15 00:40:00
