France to quarantine visitors from the  UK

France has announced it will bring in a “reciprocal” 14-day quarantine for all visitors from the UK on the same day the UK imposes quarantine on all those coming into the country from abroad.

However, unlike in Britain where the new rule will come into effect on 8 June, visitors will be asked to voluntarily self-quarantine at home. The French measure appears to be a tit-for-tat political move by Paris after the UK quarantine decision was announced without any apparent consultation.

In any case, France’s external borders have been closed since early April to all except those who have a “compelling” professional or family reason to enter the territory, so the French quarantine will affect few people and, as a non-obligatory measure, be hard to police.

From 8 June, anyone arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train, including British nationals, will be required to give an address where they will remain for 14 days. There will be a £100 fine for anyone who does not fill in the specific form and unannounced visits will be made to check those in quarantine are remaining isolated, the UK authorities announced last week. Fines of up to £1,000 could be given to those who do not self-isolate.

Via Reuters/France 24/The Local