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France to require 24-hour test for UK and some EU countries over delta variant fears

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France to require 24-hour test for UK and some EU countries over delta variant fears
Photo: Ian Langsdon/AFP

France has announced stricter restrictions on unvaccinated travellers from several countries that have reported high numbers of Covid cases linked to the delta variant of the virus - the UK, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Greece.

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In a live TV appearance on Monday, French president Emmanuel Macron announced a package of measures aimed at controlling a delta-driven fourth wave of Covid in France.

On the subject of travel restrictions he said: "From this week, controls at our borders will be strengthened for those coming from high-risk countries, with strict isolation for unvaccinated travellers" - but offered no further details.

However, some clarification was later published by France's Europe minister Clément Beaune on Twitter.

It appears that France is keeping in place its traffic light system, but imposing extra restrictions on three countries.

READ ALSO How France's traffic light travel system works

He announced a "reinforced regime" for travellers from the UK who are not fully vaccinated - a negative Covid test taken within 24 hours of travel, in addition to having compelling reasons for travel. This is a change from the existing regime which requires a test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Either PCR or antigen tests are accepted, but not home-test kits.

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Existing traffic light restrictions remain in place.

This means the new rules from the UK are;

Fully vaccinated travellers - can travel to France for any reason, do not have to quarantine on arrival but do need a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of travel. Travellers from the UK who had AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine do not count as 'fully vaccinated' under French rules.

Unvaccinated travellers - can only travel to France for essential reasons (which includes French citizens and residents returning home), must quarantine for seven days on arrival and need a negative Covid test taken within 24 hours of travel. Find the full list of accepted reasons for travel HERE.

READ ALSO Can families with unvaccinated children travel to France?

Spain, Portugal and the rest of the EU and Schengen zone are on France's green list, but testing has also been tightened up for non-vaccinated travellers who now require a negative test taken within 24 hours of travel, not 72 hours as previously.

On Saturday, the government also tightened entry requiremenets for Cyprus, the Netherlands and Greece.

This means the new rules for Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Greece are;

Fully vaccinated travellers - can travel for any reason, do not need to quarantine or present a negative Covid test.

Unvaccinated travellers - can travel for any reason and do not need to quarantine, but must show a negative Covid test taken within 24 hours of travel.

Tests are required for all travellers aged over 11.

All entrants to France need to present a declaration that they are in good health - you can find the declaration HERE.

In travel terms, fully vaccinated is defined as someone who has received a vaccine approved by the EMA - Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca (but not Covishield) or Johnson & Johnson - and is two weeks after their second dose, or four weeks after the injection if they received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson injection (which is known in France as Janssen).

These rules are in place from Saturday, July 17th.

 

 

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Anonymous 2021/07/15 19:03
Has there been any change to British residents in France returning to the uk, i.e. do we have to isolate for 2 weeks when entering the uk. What is the situation on our return to France, we are fully vaccinated in French Pfizer vaccine
Anonymous 2021/07/14 10:24
Like Martina I need to know if the test within 24 hours is a PCR one or if an Antigen Test is acceptable; I had ordered, paid for and have, just this morning, received an Antigen test. Thanks
  • Anonymous 2021/07/15 20:36
    Both are acceptable from July 15th as it says if they are within 24hrs. I travel on Sunday via tunnel to France. Luckily we are testing at 2:30pm on Saturday and travelling at 9:30 On Sunday. Just by luck
martina_415889 2021/07/13 20:02
Are they checking the batches of the NHS app vaccinated people? I have one Covishield, under Vaxzveria name but the batch is one of these infamous ones. And the 24 hours test then is for antigen tests only, as the PCR test would never come that soon.

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