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France warns of UK travel restrictions due to Indian variant – following Germany

NOW France could enforce additional travel restrictions on Brits heading to the country, due to the Indian variant.

It comes just days after Germany banned travel from the UK due to the Covid strain.

France has lowered their own travel restrictions - but may enforce more on UK travellers
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France has lowered their own travel restrictions - but may enforce more on UK travellersCredit: AP

While France has said they will not introduce an outright ban, extra measures could be put into place.

French foreign affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio: "We worry about the Indian variant and we remain on high alert regarding that matter, in co-operation with British authorities."

He added: "We hope that the variant can be controlled in a country which experienced real failures during the pandemic.

"However, the arrival of the Indian variant and the increase of cases of Indian variant in the United Kingdom pose a problem and so we are vigilant about this [and] in contact with the British authorities.

"It won't be the red treatment if we have to do it. It will be an intermediate treatment."

The country may block UK tourists due to the Indian variant
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The country may block UK tourists due to the Indian variantCredit: AFP
Bars and museums have been able to reopen in France, however
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Bars and museums have been able to reopen in France, howeverCredit: EPA

While the country has lowered their own restrictions with bars and museums able to reopen, the country is yet to be put on the UK's green list - meaning anyone returning from France must quarantine for 10 days, as well as pay for a pre-arrival Covid test and two during self-isolation.

The risk of further travel restrictions comes days after Germany announced that Brits are banned from entering the country.

Enforced yesterday, people travelling to Germany from Great Britain and Northern Ireland may only enter the country if they are a German citizen or resident.

Those with an urgent humanitarian reason such as an immediate family bereavement are also able to enter, however anyone entering the country from the UK must quarantine for two weeks on arrival, even if they test negative for the coronavirus.

People who are only transferring from one flight to another will still be allowed in - but they must remain in the airport transit area.

The move comes after Spain lifted travel restrictions on British visitors, with up to 100,000 holidaymakers expected to fly this week against the government advice.

Despite the surge in flights, the PM and government have warned Brits not to travel to Spain as it remains on the amber list.

Boris Johnson's spokesman said: "Our advice hasn't changed in regards to amber list countries.

"We have been clear that people shouldn't be travelling to amber list countries for the purposes of holidays."

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