Updated on 27 May
At a time when the general trend is to ease travel constraints, France will be introducing compulsory isolation for travellers from the United KingdomThe French government has decided to withdraw the quarantine measure it has previously applied to 16 countries, including Brazil, India, Argentina and Turkey. The decision was announced on Wednesday 26 May by government spokesman Gabriel Attal at the end of the Council of Ministers. This compulsory isolation will come into force on 31 May.
The reason for this is that UK residents have been able to travel abroad again without a compelling reason since 17 May: concern about the circulation of variant B.1.617.2 across the Channel. Cases of the Indian variant have increased by 18% in one week, mainly in the north-west of the island and in one London district. Despite the fact that the vaccination campaign is well advanced, the Indian variant now represents half of Covid cases in the UK.
According to the German health watch institute Robert Koch, the UK has once again become a high-risk area for health risks. As a result, Germany also announced at the weekend its intention to limit travel. Travellers from the UK are subject to a compulsory two-week quarantine.
It should be noted that travellers from France are also subject to five to ten days' isolation and tests on arrival in the UK. This measure, which applies to many European countries, was due to be relaxed in June. Will this still be the case between now and then? Whatever the case may be, possible double isolation on both the outward and return journeys is set to further curb business travel between France and England.
