France Blocks Most U.K. Travel Amid Omicron Surge
Topline
France will introduce a sequence of “drastic” new journey restrictions on vacationers from the U.Ok., authorities officers announced Thursday, because it makes an attempt to curb the unfold of the omicron variant driving a record-breaking variety of coronavirus infections throughout the Channel.
France will tighten its border restrictions to UK vacationers.
AFP through Getty Photos
Key Details
From midnight between Friday and Saturday, U.Ok. vacationers will want a compelling motive to be allowed to enter France, the federal government stated in a press release, citing the “fast unfold of the omicron variant within the U.Ok.”
These causes don’t embrace enterprise and tourism, the assertion defined, and all vacationers might want to present a unfavourable Covid-19 check taken fewer than 24 hours earlier than their arrival.
Vacationers should quarantine after their arrival, in response to the brand new guidelines, isolating for both seven days or 48 hours in the event that they present a unfavourable coronavirus check.
French and EU nationals and residents—and their households—are exempt from the brand new guidelines.
Key Background
Coronavirus circumstances throughout Europe have surged to document ranges in latest weeks. The U.Ok. reported the best variety of each day Covid-19 circumstances because the pandemic started Wednesday and consultants predict omicron will change into the dominant variant by the tip of December. One analysis suggests it has already change into the dominant type of the virus in London, the place it’s spreading quickly, in step with warnings from British Well being Secretary Sajid Javid. Whereas delta is driving nearly all of the European wave, omicron will doubtless change into the dominant coronavirus variant in Europe by mid-January, warned European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday, although consultants predict it may overtake delta as quickly as this week in Norway and Denmark.
Additional Studying
Quick-Spreading Omicron Might Turn out to be Dominant Variant In Europe Inside A Month, EU Chief Warns (Forbes)
U.Ok. Units New File For Day by day Covid-19 Circumstances (Forbes)
U.K. Travelers to France Face Stricter Rules to Slow Omicron (Bloomberg)
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