France relaxes ban on trucks entering from UK
France relaxed its coronavirus-related ban on trucks from Britain yesterday after a two-day standoff that had stranded thousands of drivers and raised fears of Christmastime food shortages in the UK.
French authorities, who had imposed the ban to try to protect the continent from a new variant of the virus that is circulating in London and southeast England, said delivery drivers could enter by ferry or tunnel provided they showed proof of a negative test for the virus. Select passengers will be allowed back on the continent, too.
After two days of intense talks with British and European Union partners, French Transport Minister JeanBaptiste Djebbari said in a statement that the coming hours would be dedicated to setting up testing sites so that British truckers could make it to the continent and back in time for Christmas. Quick tests will be accepted if they are able to detect the new virus variant, Djebbari said.
At least 2800 truck drivers had been anxiously waiting near the England Channel port of Dover for word they could cross over to the continent. French and British authorities urged them to avoid ports until they can get tested.
France also said it would allow EU travellers, along with British citizens with EU residency, back into the country if they had a negative virus test in the preceding 72 hours. British tourists remain barred.
About 40 countries imposed travel bans on Britain, leaving the island nation increasingly isolated, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned over the weekend that the new variant of the virus might be 70 per cent more contagious.
But the French restrictions were particularly worrisome, given that Britain relies heavily on its crossChannel commercial links to the continent for food this time of year.
At the same time, Britain is witnessing an alarming rise in infections, with a record 36,800 reported yesterday, and is facing deep uncertainty over its final exit from the European Union in less than two weeks.
Despite the looming deadline, the country has yet to work out its postBrexit trade arrangements with the EU.
The virus is blamed for 1.7 million deaths worldwide, including more than 68,000 in Britain, the secondhighest death toll in Europe.
Over the weekend, Johnson imposed strict lockdown measures in London and neighbouring areas amid mounting concerns over the new variant. He scrapped a planned relaxation of rules over Christmastime for millions of people and banned indoor mixing of households.