France ‘to be next on Covid list’
BY OLIVER MILNE FRANCE could be the next holiday destination to be removed from the air bridge list after an alarming spike in coronavirus cases.
Thousands of holidaymakers already in France could face two weeks in quarantine on their return if the UK’s governments act soon.
Infections in France, the UK’s second most popular holiday destination after Spain, rose by more than 1600 over a 24-hour period for the second day in a row on Thursday, levels not seen since late May.
Asked what holidaymakers already in France or those due to visit should do, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said it was a “tricky situation”.
But he said the UK would not hesitate to add countries to the restrictions in a bid to contain the virus.
Speaking as he visited shops in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, he said: “We’re in the midst of a global pandemic and that means there is always the risk of disruption to travel plans and people need to bear that in mind.
“It’s the right thing for us to do to keep everything under review on a constant basis, talking with our scientists and medical advisers.”
Belgium, the Bahamas and Andorra yesterday joined Spain and Luxembourg on the quarantine list, with returning travellers told to self-isolate for 14 days on their return.
Paul Charles, boss of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: “Unless France takes further significant steps to reduce its case numbers, then it’s highly likely to be added later next week.”