Many countries are reimposing stricter rules to enter their territory in the face of what scientists call the 5th wave of the pandemic. Or to contain a new variant detected in Southern Africa and called "Omicron"..
United Kingdom
We're not going to prevent people from travelling", declared a press conference on 27 November, "We're not going to prevent people from travelling", declared a press conference on 27 November, "We're not going to prevent people from travelling". British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. While Britons and foreign travellers can, in theory, move from one country to another, the new rules significantly restrict this freedom of movement.
La Boris Johnson press conference set out the government's response to the new Omicron variantalready detected across Europe.
While travellers can indeed move between the UK and the rest of the world, the new rules will come as a cold shower. From Tuesday 30 November, all travellers arriving from the European Union will again undergo a PCR test on the second day after their arrival in the United Kingdom.. And will have to isolate themselves accordingly until the result of this test.
This means extra costs and a considerable loss of time. Especially for business travellers. The measurements are based on a self-test delivered to the place of stay. The minimum cost for delivery is £45. But the price can fluctuate up to more than £100, depending on the urgency of the need and the place of delivery.
Boris Johnson conceded that the travel restrictions "seemed harsh". But the Prime Minister insisted that the whole package was "targeted and appropriate" and that it was temporary.e. And finally to add that "that's the way it is and no other way"!
European Union
Within the European Union, the 5th wave is sowing doubts in member countries about the policy to be followed with regard to the movement of travellers. Lhe European Commission has recommended that travel should not be restricted to fully vaccinated people.. But this is only a recommendation, and the final decision remains the prerogative of each country. At the same time, the European Agency for the Prevention of Epidemics (ECDC) recommended thatavoid non-essential travel.
However, the Commission is working on a possible reduction in the validity of the European health passport for people who have been vaccinated.. This validity would be reduced from 12 to 9 months except in the case of a recall..
Faced with the resurgence of the epidemic, some EU countries are now tightening their entry conditions.
Visit PortugalPrime Minister Antonio Costa said that at the On 1 December, all travellers will have to present a negative test for Covid-19 less than 48 hours old.regardless of their vaccination status. The government says that travellers will also need to show their health pass to gain access to many public places - restaurants, bars, museums, gyms, etc.
Visit GermanyChancellor Olaf Scholz's new government is likely to suggest the use of themore systematic use of the 2G+ rule. 2G means that only people who have been vaccinated or cured of Covid are allowed to enter public places. 2G+ would mean that these same people would also have to produce an antigen-negative test to gain access to certain particularly busy places.
Outside Europe, the Morocco on Monday suspended all direct flights to its territory for a fortnight. Israel and Japan have banned all foreign travellers from entering the country since 29 November. Until further notice...
