France will introduce a series of "drastic" new travel restrictions on travelers from the U.K., government officials announced Thursday, as it attempts to curb the spread of the omicron variant driving a record-breaking number of coronaviruses across the Channel.
France will make it harder for UK travelers.
The images are from the same source.
The government said in a statement that travelers from the U.K. will need a reason to enter France from midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Travelers will need to provide a negative Covid-19 test less than 24 hours before their arrival, as those reasons do not include business and tourism.
Travelers must be isolated for at least seven days or 48 hours if they show a negative coronaviruses test.
French and EU nationals are exempt from the new rules.
Gabriel Attal, a government spokesman, said Thursday that the restrictions are to buy more time for France to roll out booster shots.
There have been record levels of coronaviruses in Europe in recent weeks. The U.K. reported the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the Pandemic, and experts think omicron will become the dominant variant by the end of the year. It is thought that it has become the dominant form of the virus in London, in line with warnings from British Health Secretary Sajid Javid. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that omicron will likely become the dominant coronaviruses variant in Europe by mid-January, though experts think it could overtake delta as soon as this week in Norway.
EU leader Warns says fast-spreading Omicron could become a dominant variant within a month.
The U.K. sets a new record.
Travelers to France face stricter rules.
Coverage and live updates on the coronaviruses.
