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Tests and quarantine: France imposes new border restrictions for arrivals from non-EU countries

The French government announced a tightening of border restrictions with non-EU countries including the UK on Thursday as it attempts to head off a new rise in Covid-19 infections. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 14 January 2021 19:01 CET
Tests and quarantine: France imposes new border restrictions for arrivals from non-EU countries
AFP

In a press conference on Thursday French PM Jean Castex announced that a 6pm nighttime curfew would be extended throughout the country to stem rising Covid-19 rates.

The PM also announced that the rules for entering France would be tightened in a bid to prevent new more contagious variants of Covid-19 that have wreaked havoc in other countries such as the UK from spreading in France.

Castex announced that anyone arriving from a non-EU country would need to present a negative coronavirus test undertaken within the previous 72 hours to gain entry into France.

Travellers from outside the EU would then have to declare “on their honour” that they will self-isolate for seven days once they arrive in France and then undergo a second PCR test.

The self-isolation can take place at home.

“We are going to strengthen border control,” said the PM. “As of Monday (January 18th) all travellers coming to France from outside the European Union will have to take a test before leaving.

“Those concerned will then have to isolate for seven days and do a second PCR test at the end of this period.”

The UK, which left the EU at the end of the transition period on December 31st, is understood to be included by the new restrictions.

The premier minister also announced that certain countries within the EU which were suffering a steep surge in infections “such as Denmark and Ireland” would also be subject to extra border restrictions, without spelling out what these would be or when they would start.

Caste said “ministers will work on a coordination framework for the European Council on January 21st, to provide exceptions for cross-border workers and road hauliers.”

Cross-border workers and other “essential” workers entering France would be exempt from the requirement to isolate, the PM said.

France closed its border with Britain on December 20th due to the emergence of the new variant. It will remain partially closed until further notice.

At present only certain groups of people are allowed into France from the UK – French or European citizens, those who live in France or another EU country and essential workers – and everyone must present a negative Covid-19 test at the border.

Second-home owners, tourists and those visiting family remain barred.

Between 1 and 1.5 percent of new cases in France are the “variant anglais”, the French Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Thursday, which equates to around 200 to 300 cases each day.

Since April travel to France and the rest of the EU has also been heavily restricted from non-EU countries, with only essential trips allowed such as residents of France returning home.

 

 

 

Member comments

  1. I hope they allow vaccinated family members to visit soon. I haven’t seen my parents in over a year. 🙁

  2. Yes, hopefully, once we are vaccinated it should mean we are good to travel. However, in the UK its unclear whether we get a document to state we’ve had the vaccine.

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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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