COVID-19: France bans British tourists amid rising UK Omicron cases | UK news

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British tourists are set to be barred from entering France amid fears of a “too rapid” rise in Omicron cases in the UK.

As of Saturday morning, France is banning travel to and from Britain without “compelling reasons”.

Paris said these reasons do not include tourism and business.

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Photo: A passenger’s documents are checked at St Pancras Eurostar terminal in London

It added that for those who are able to travel from the UK for “compelling reason”, there will be an obligation to register their residence address in France.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal told BFM television that the measures would include reducing the validity of pre-departure PCR tests to 24 hours from 48 for travelers arriving from Britain.

Mr Atal added that they would have to take the test again on arrival and isolate “in a place of their choosing” for at least 48 hours while awaiting the result.

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said transport companies would not be affected.

“To confirm, I have contacted my French counterpart, carriers will remain exempt,” he wrote on Twitter.

French citizens, their spouses and children are also not affected by the new rules.

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Brittany Ferris called the measures “a hammer blow to the Christmas season”.

“In the context of the Omicron variant passing through the French population as in the UK, further border controls appear as unnecessary as it is unwelcome,” the spokesperson added.

Niall Walsh, COO of ticketing site Direct Ferries, said his company had been receiving calls from “disturbed UK customers who are desperate to either cancel or advance their reservations”.

He added that France’s action was “disappointing and we believe an unnecessary decision will keep many people separated again this year for the holiday”.

“Extensive country measures are a destructive step back and never work,” said Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency.

He added: “Omicron is already present in France and other EU countries. Why should millions be treated the same way as non-vaccinated and denied entry?”

Photo: Trucks queuing as they approach Dover on Thursday

The delta variant of COVID-19 remains dominant in France.

Her government is holding a virus security meeting on Friday to examine the increasing pressure on hospitals due to the surge in infections in recent weeks.

“In the words of the UK government itself, the UK is facing an Omicron ‘tidal wave’ in the coming days,” France said in a statement.

She added: “In response to the very rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, the government is re-establishing compelling reasons for travel to and from the UK, and strengthening testing requirements on departure and arrival.”

Another 78,610 cases of COVID were reported in the UK on Wednesday – the highest daily number since the start of the pandemic.

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