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HEALTH

France reopens UK border for essential travel only

France reopened its UK border on Wednesday - but only for a limited number of travellers.

Published: 22 December 2020 19:13 CET
France reopens UK border for essential travel only
Photo: AFP

The France-UK border has been completely closed since Sunday night after the UK government announced a new strain of the Covid-19 virus, which it said was highly contagious.

After discussions with European partners, France has now announced that the border will reopen on Wednesday but only for limited groups.

 

These are

  • French citizens or citizens of another EU country
  • Non-French citizens who are permanent residents of France or another EU country
  • People spending less than 24 hours in France in transit to another country
  • Members of an official mission or diplomatic staff and their families
  • Health professionals engaged in Covid-related care
  • People engaged in the international transport of merchandise (such as lorry drivers)
  • Transport workers or fishing crew
  • International students
  • Professor or researcher in a French educational establishment
  • Non-EU citizens travelling on a 'talent visa'
  • Anyone who has a pass issued by the Interior Ministry 

All travel will be conditional on a negative Covid test taken no more than 72 hours prior to travel.

In most cases the PCR nasal swab test should be used, but in certain circumstances the quick-result antigen test can be accepted – but only one of the ones listed in the below document from the French health ministry.

 

This covers both people travelling to France and passing through on their way to another country.

These conditions, which will remain in place until January 6th, rule out tourism, family visits and visits from second-home owners.

The Local has asked what proof of residency status will be accepted at the border.

The statement from the French Prime Minister Jean Castex said: “Due to the very rapid development in the United Kingdom of the VUI-2020-12-01 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, France – the leading land, sea and air border for trade between the United Kingdom and the European Area – totally suspended the flow of people and road transport from the country for 48 hours on Sunday, December 20th at midnight.

“Other suspension decisions were taken simultaneously in a majority of EU countries and beyond.

“This period allowed for consultation between the European Commission and Member States based on the health risk analysis published on December 20th by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as well as constructive bilateral exchanges between the French and UK governments.

“Against this background, from midnight on December 22nd, only certain categories of people will be allowed to travel to or transit through France from the UK.”

Transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djabbari thanked his British counterpart Grant Shapps for his work.

 

The decision to ban freight traffic has lead to huge queues of lorries in southern England.

The British and French governments said a full health protocol for lorry drivers would be released later this evening, but Shapps added that lorry drivers should not travel to Kent this evening.

 

Although transport can restart from midnight tonight, services in both directions have been extremely disrupted over the last 48 hours, so anyone with a journey planned is advised to check with their transport operator.

From January 1st, British travellers into France will face travel restrictions linked to the EU's Covid-19 rules for non-EU countries.

Member comments

  1. Judging by the list it seems virtually everyone. Should only be for freight and EU citizens or residents. How the hell did students make it on the list.

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FRANCE WEATHER

Thunderstorms, floods and traffic: France’s last holiday weekend in May 

The final holiday weekend of May in France is set to be marked by bad weather and difficult driving conditions on busy roads.

Published: 17 May 2024 15:44 CEST
Thunderstorms, floods and traffic: France’s last holiday weekend in May 

Monday, May 20th is a holiday for most of France, marking the Christian festival of Pentecost, which means that many people will enjoy a three-day weekend.

This is the last of four public holidays in France in May 2024, now we need to wait until August for another extra day off work (since the Fête National on July 14th falls on a Sunday this year).

So what can we expect for the long weekend? Well, bad weather and heavy traffic, unfortunately.

The Moselle département, in north-east France, was placed on red weather alert on Friday after hours of heavy rain caused flash flooding.

The red weather alert initially runs until 9pm on Friday, with between 80mm and 100mm of rain expected, while between 70mm and 90mm are predicted in the far north of the neighbouring Bas-Rhin, with up to 70mm expected further south – figures national forecaster Météo-France said approached records for daily rainfall figures in the region.

Orange alerts in the area remain in place on Saturday.

Image: Météo-France

Rain and occasional storms, some bringing hail, are expected to develop across large parts of the country throughout the weekend, with only the Mediterranean areas likely to remain dry on Saturday.

Showers and sunny spells will continue into Sunday and Monday, with occasional thunderstorms in the south-west. Temperatures throughout the weekend should rise to between 15C and 22C.

To make family getaways on the final long weekend of the month even more difficult, roads watchdog Bison Futé predicts ‘difficult’, or ‘very difficult’ travel conditions on key routes across the country. 

Image: Bison Fute

On Friday, traffic is expected to be heavy on routes heading away from major cities towards popular holiday destinations until well into the evening – especially on Paris’s Périphérique and the A86 and A6B, the A7, along the Mediterranean Arc and on the Atlantic seaboard (A11, N165 and A63). 

The A13 is likely to remain closed to traffic between Paris and Vaucresson across the holiday weekend, so drivers from the Paris region wishing to reach Normandy are advised to take the A14, A15 or N12

On Saturday, May 18th, conditions on the roads will be difficult nationwide, particularly on roads serving the Mediterranean arc (A7 and A9) and the Atlantic coast (A63 and N165). In the Île-de-France region, traffic will be heavy from early morning onwards on the A6 and A10. From mid-morning onwards, traffic is expected to intensify significantly. 

Image: Bison Fute

Routes converging on the A10 and A6 could also see traffic problems on Saturday, Bison Futé warned.

No major forecastable traffic problems are expected on Sunday – but, on Monday, May 20th, short breakers will be returning home, leading to heavy traffic across the country, notably on A7 and A9, in the Mediterranean region, and routes serving the west of the country.

Traffic will be heavy on the A10 and A6 in the Île-de-France region from late morning into the evening. The A13, which should be open, could also experience traffic problems from mid-afternoon onwards, and could continue to do so well into the evening.

Across the country banks and public administration offices will close. Some independent shops may close, while larger stores and chains are more likely to be open, but probably with altered opening hours.

Most bars, restaurants and cafés will remain open while public transport will run as normal. 

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