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U.K. Travelers to France Face Stricter Rules to Slow Omicron

U.K. Travelers to France Face Stricter Rules to Slow Omicron

France will ban tourists and almost all business travelers from the U.K. under tough new travel restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the omicron variant.

“We are going to put in place more drastic controls at the border with the U.K.,” including a requirement to self-isolate, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Thursday in an interview with BFM television.

The plan comes after the U.K. recorded on Wednesday its highest number of positive Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 78,610 infections. The new French rules will kick in at midnight on Friday.

U.K. Travelers to France Face Stricter Rules to Slow Omicron

Among measures to be imposed, France will reduce the validity of covid tests to 24 hours from 48 hours currently, Attal said. The rule will apply to all arrivals, including the fully vaccinated. People traveling to France from the U.K. will also have to self-isolate for seven days. This restriction can be lifted after 48 hours on proof of a negative test. 

Justifications for coming to France will be limited, with all tourist and non-essential business travel to France to be barred. French citizens and their families as well as residents can return home. Truckers hauling goods will be exempt from the new restrictions, U.K. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said

New French Measures
  • Non-essential tourist and business travel barred
  • Covid-test validity cut to 24 hours from 48 hours
  • Self isolation for seven days. Restriction lifted after 48 hours on negative test
  • Online registrations prior to arrival in France
  • Truckers and health workers exempt

“We’ve maintained that travel abroad will be different this year and that countries may impose border measures at short notice,” Max Blain, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman told reporters on Thursday. “In line with rising omicron cases around the world, we removed countries from the red list as this was no longer an effective or proportionate measure to slow the import of omicron from abroad given it is seeded throughout the world.”

The French move came as European Union leaders gather in Brussels to discuss coordination on efforts to fight the virus. Greece and Italy announced that all travelers to the two countries, including from inside the EU, will need to show proof of a negative PCR test. 

The multitude of steps is raising concerns that the EU’s digital Covid certificate, which has allowed hassle-free travel in Europe, is breaking down. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel told reporters in Brussels that varying national restrictions will make it harder to convince people to get vaccinated.

“If you make no difference between vaccinated, not vaccinated people because they need a PCR test, I think it is a wrong idea,” he said. “It’s not a position I will defend. It’s a national decision, but for me it’s a common problem and we need common solutions.”

The French move was prompted by its proximity to the U.K., a government official said, adding that partners in the bloc were informed. The country has no plans for restrictions against other countries with a high omicron cases like Denmark.

The measures announced are aimed at allowing more time for people to get Covid vaccine boosters, Attal said. France, which doesn’t do as much genetic sequencing of variants as Britain, has identified about 240 omicron cases in the country so far. Other cases are being investigated, he said.

“What we need to do is delay its development in France as much as possible,” he said. “We think the majority of cases in the U.K. will be the omicron variant in the coming hours or days if they aren’t already.” 

France’s decision to block visitors from the U.K. is “another blow to our business and the travel industry, just days before the peak ferry travel period commences,” Niall Walsh, chief operating officer of Direct Ferries, said in a statement. “Our Dover to Calais route is one of our most popular at this time of year and this year has been no exception. We are currently dealing with calls from distraught U.K. customers who are desperate to either cancel or bring their bookings forward.”

England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said Wednesday that omicron was spreading at a “phenomenal pace” and that “substantial numbers” of people will need hospital treatment in the coming weeks. 

Officials estimate that omicron infections are doubling roughly every two days. On Monday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said there could be 200,000 new cases that day.

U.K. Travelers to France Face Stricter Rules to Slow Omicron

Johnson is battling to ensure Britons are able to socialize freely at Christmas after imposing tight restrictions a year ago. A recent tightening of curbs saw the return of mandatory mask-wearing in many indoor spaces, a call for people to work from home, and the introduction of Covid passes for venues. However, a rebellion in Parliament by members of Johnson’s own party cast doubt over the prime minister’s ability to introduce further measures in the future. 

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.