Faced with the “extremely rapid” distribution of the Omicron variant in the United Kingdom, France is tightening its entry conditions for travelers coming from across the Channel from Saturday.
First, people wishing to go to France from the United Kingdom must have, from December 18, a compelling reason (professional, health, return home of French nationals, etc.). Matignon published a document detailing all the reasons accepted for coming to France. Thus, it is no longer possible to enter the territory from this country for tourism.
All travelers, vaccinated or not and from 12 years old, must also present a negative PCR or antigen test of less than 24 hours, compared to 48 hours previously. Please note that the self-tests, even those provided free of charge by the National Health Service, are not valid for travel to France. Only tests certified by a laboratory are admitted. Thus, the rules for vaccinated travelers align with those for non-vaccinated as of this Saturday.
compulsory isolation
Finally, a period of isolation will be compulsory. Those departing from the UK will have to register on a digital platform that will generate a “prefectural isolation order,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Thursday. They must therefore provide the address of their stay in France. Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers will then have to undergo a seven-day quarantine, from which they will be able to leave after 48 hours only on presentation of a negative PCR or antigen test. Checks will be organized by the police to ensure compliance with these rules.
These new measures aim to limit the entry of new cases of the Omicron variant into France. A few days ago, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of an approaching “Omicron tidal wave” in the United Kingdom, and announced the intensification of the anti-Covid vaccine booster campaign to cope to this variant. The very first death of a person infected with Omicron was also recorded among our British neighbors.
The country is experiencing an explosion of contamination, with nearly 80,000 contaminations recorded in 24 hours on Wednesday, a record since the start of the pandemic.
