PARIS: France announced new guidelines for individuals traveling from non-EU nations will now not be able to enter the nation by showing a negative end result from a fast, readily-available COVID-19 test like antigen or lateral flow tests that deliver results within minutes.
These faster tests method has been mostly used by truck drivers transporting goods throughout the Channel between Britain and France, for the last several weeks, France has been requiring individuals who enter France from Britain to show they don’t have COVID-19.
It was not instantly clear what affect the new testing guidelines would have on cross-Channel goods transport, which has already been affected by Britain’s departure from the European Union.
British Transport Minister Grant Shapps mentioned on Friday that hauliers may use the lateral flow tests. There was no mention of an exception for truckers in French government guidance revealed so far.
If lateral flow or antigen tests are not accepted, travellers should seek PCR tests.
They can take a number of days to provide the results, and are less broadly available in Britain for individuals who haven’t got a medical justification for getting tested.
