France Covid-19 Travel restrictions

A snowHead

Hi All, I can't find anything on here about travel to France, so apologies if there is already a 50 page thread runniing and I've missed it.

I've got 2 things - I'm likeley to be travelling to France in the next month or so to help my parents sort out some property matters - is there a good place for advice on travel and living restrictions in France? The situation seems so fluid I am keeping an eye on both UK Gov news and Foreign Office, but French Government and Department and other news websites are a bit confusing with their messaging, I'm not sure what the definitive source should be.

Also, and ski related, what are people's thoughts on resorts opening and the new season? I managed to get some very cheap flights to Geneva and have booked a week in an apartment from Boxing day in Les Gets. Sespite the usual snow concerns is there going to be any skiing in France early season? Is there anywhere we can track news on this too?

A snowHead

@Randyp909, I'll do this cronologically. I'm supposed to be in france (hospital work) soon so was looking into it.

In reverse. Fr to UK is a 14 quarantine. Because of this France slapped on a 14 reciprocal quarantine to anyone entering France (with exceptions to french nationals or residents).

Recently this was changed but the info is not clear.

EG French ambassador uk website says
https://uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-UK-and-French-travel-and-quarantine-measures

3. Travellers entering France from the UK
The French Government is putting in place a voluntary 14-day quarantine measure for travellers arriving from certain countries.
For travellers arriving from European countries whose authorities have decided, in an uncoordinated fashion, to apply 14-day quarantine measures to travellers entering their territory from European countries, a voluntary 14-day quarantine period will be requested.

Note it says requested but not sure if that is mandatory.

But the French gov site (in english) says it is changed
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/

1. If you are arriving from a country on the list below, you can enter metropolitan France without any COVID-19-related restrictions or paperwork.
Member States of the European Union, Andorra, Australia, Canada, Georgia, the Holy See, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Rwanda, San Marino, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Wow, thankyou Glasgow Cyclops, some really helpful pointers. So in theory no restrictions for travelling in, and this is an improving situation, though what it's like locally, and how it may be enforced (given my experience with rural/regional French bureaucracy) could be any one's guess.

Regarding the 2020/21 ski season. I guess the whole of Europe is playing a waiting game to see how much restriction there will be in the ski resorts and how far they can open, and given the current picture of increased infections in the holiday regions and the reactions from some countries, It's still not looking too hopeful. The operators are hedging their bets, I can see, I have been getting messages from travel agents and private ski schools that they will offer refunds/rebookings if you book now.

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@GlasgowCyclops, Thank you so much. This is so helpful. I have bookmarked the two links. Really appreciate this.

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@Randyp909, The gov.uk site also says it is okay to enter without quarantine.

If I was going on a package holiday I would make sure it is covered by ATOL. BUt I've other plans.

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Thanks really helpful. So my most immediate plans are probably ok to proceed.

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@Randyp909, I don't know how it is locally. I live in Glasgow but travel a lot. My company makes specialist medical research equipment that is the reason to go to Nantes.

Lots of places are making the wearing of masks compulsory in busier areas, outside. Lyon 1e arrondissement at least, Grenoble has recently too I think. I was in Pezenas, which is touristy, last week, in the centre there too. Many other large cities have also, ie Nice, Marseille. I believe Marseille may be subject to further measures too.

We've had several cases here recently and at least one bar closed early as a staff member tested positive. But we had a lot of visitors from all over France and other parts of Europe. Some of the rules were not being strictly adhered to. Closed now and here at least it will calm down.

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We drove through France yesterday, from Switzerland, back to the UK via Eurotunnel. We stopped at a small town in the Franche Comté en route to do a wine/coffee shop. I started-up the French StopCovid app when we crossed the border and turned off the SwissCovid app.

It was very noticeable how everyone in France seemed to be wearing a mask. Not just inside buildings but also pedestrians out and about as well.

We had completed the Interior Ministry Attestation of journey type and Declaration that we had no symptoms forms, but at the CH/F border, the French guards just waved us through and didn't ask for anything. There are links for these on the UK French Embassy site, both in English and French.

We completed the gov.uk returning Notification forms online. The PDF we got after submission wouldn't download onto my iPhone directly. Fortunately, I had also saved a copy on the laptop, and when I emailed that to myself it downloaded fine - world-beating stuff. At Eurotunnel Calais, we were asked if we'd completed the form (who wouldn't say 'Yes'?) but not for a copy of it.

We got to Eurotunnel a bit more than 2 hours early and they put us on the next train out, which was nice. Turned off the French StopCovid app - So having been electronically monitored the whole time we were in Switzerland and France, back in the UK we could go pretty much anywhere and no one would be any the wiser. World-beating.

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@LaForet, it’s up to the honesty of the individual how they deal with travel and quarantine. Of course if someone does develop Covid having ‘dodged’ quarantine, they will be in a difficult situation of either lying about their travel or admitting the breach. If they also infect others, friends, family, acquaintances etc. then they may have a few personal issues to deal with too.

Then there is the situation of employers knowing that their employee has just arrived from a country that requires quarantine, and not allowing them back to work.

Of course neighbours, friends & family may also be aware of the travel and perhaps have a view on it when and if the bump into someone who they know should be at home.

I think the fact that a huge number of people decide not to travel and many do quarantine if needed, this ‘passive’ method of managing it all and the associated risk of being caught is perhaps having the desired effect ?

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@johnE, presumably he knew the company policy before he went on holiday?

You know it makes sense.

'it’s up to the honesty of the individual how they deal with travel and quarantine.'

Not in a global pandemic. Yesterday, there was plenty of time for someone to have checked our Covid form. And at a minimum - an absolute minimum - we could easily have been handed a test kit and told to return a self-test in 5 days time. This would have added 5 seconds to the check in time.

Eurotunnel have ANPR and our passports were read at check in. Add the Covid Q-code to that and an app against the mobile number and you have infinitely more traceability than at present, with little extra effort - most of this would be electronic data transfer. Add a test at the border point and another self-test in 5 days and the whole profile of people coming from abroad is covered.

What's the point of the online Covid form is you don't even have to show it? What's the point of all this testing capacity if we don't use it? There's an almost wilful strategy to not use technology and data to contain this and future outbreaks.

Matt Hancock says testing at points of entry only catches 7% or so of cases and testing is much more useful a few days after arrival ... Well duh so why not hand us a test kit and tell us to self-test later? Or schedule a mandatory test for us a few days later at a centre? Really, given some of the really good postings here, I think the collective membership of Snowheads could handle this better than the Government has.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@LaForet, ok

A snowHead

@rayscoops Sorry, I know I go on [and on] about this, but really, the tech isn't that challenging. It's not simple, but this is a pandemic: it do-able and worth the effort. Add to that some obvious processes, like handing people a self-test kit on check in when returning, and I just don't understand why it's not being done. And yes, the French and Swiss Covid apps aren't perfect and probably 'only' pick up about 10%-15% of undetected cases, but that could make all the difference between the R staying below vs exceeding 1.0

A snowHead

@LaForet,

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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@Randyp909, I believe there are some companies offering basic travel insurance for travelling whilst FCO restrictions are in place. Normal travel insurance would be invalid. I contacted our breakdown cover and they said it would still be valid but that the breakdown recovery services in France are generally slower than normal as a result of covid. Car insurance should also be ok but check that your insurance gives comprehensive cover for travel in Europe (as when I looked into ours fully it was only third party and they said I would have to buy a green card for full cover).
The reason we cancelled our recent trip was primarily the 14 day quarantine on the return to the UK which would have meant our child missing two weeks of school.

I have no idea how long the FCO restrictions to France are likely to last. One can hope that the government will at least improve testing at ports and airports so that the quarantine time can be reduced.

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Completely doable via Swiss and Germany by filling up just before entering CH and again in Germany before entering France.

We left France after quarantine started and decided so spend a week in the Black Forest of Germany to adsorb a week of our quarantine. We were mindful no to stop in France for fuel on way home as to not reset the 14 day quarantine, but did stop at a remote services to for per-packed lunch without mixing with anyone. We declared to the border crossing that we stop in a remote area in France and the chap said it was completely fine. They did not check
if we completed the entry form.

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@Ozboy, I had not thought of that way. If we had been in Italy it would have been near the frejus tunnel and the direct route back is through France.

You know it makes sense.

@DJL, When I read the above I assumed that if one got out at a service station it would count as mixing with other people even if we were to go to a service station at a quiet time when few people were around. I think the government need to make guidelines clearer. Although of course I wish they would just remove the restriction from France altogether!

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@snowymum, I assumed pay at pump and pee behind a bush and all would be fine. I think it is right that if you go into the building on the Aire it would be “mixing with other people”.

Didn’t help us as we were worried about Lux & Be transit but then F & NL got put on the list as well.

5 days quarantine to go..........

A snowHead

@DJL, We are currently planning to go to Portugal - using that method to cross France and Spain - in the camper we can just fuel up at pay at pump, and we have our own toilet. Staysure do insurance that covers countries against FCO advice for an extra £5 - doesn't cover Covid risks in those countries obviously, but does cover normal risks.

A snowHead

Actually, let's face it, re quarantining on return, the immigration system is a cinch to evade. We completed the Covid Form honestly and said we were in CH but could just as easily have said we'd been in Germany. No one at Calais asked to see the form. We could have not completed one and we'd have got through. All you risk at worst is being told to complete the form before re-presenting yourself to Eurotunnel checkin. You don't have to give a mobile number and I'm pretty certain they have no ability to monitor its location even if you did provide it. Back home, no one has contacted us. Apparently, all that happens anyway is you get a call at your nominated number and after 3 attempts they hand the contact over to the local police to follow-up. I would understand if being honest meant someone lost £5K of earnings and the kids had to be kept off school, they will be sorely tempted to be dishonest. Or if like us, they'd driven directly to a mountain village, stayed in an apartment, brought most of their own food, and only used a gondola once a day, and spent the rest outdoors - they'd 'use common sense' and justify being dishonest on the basis of being far less likely to be infected than if they'd been at home working and/or at school.

In our case, we had intended to not 'mingle' on the day we drove back through France from CH (bio-breaks at the smaller aires and self-service refuelling) and so not need to quarantine, as per gov.uk guidance. Then, when CH was removed from the travel bridge list, we thought 'OK, so we'll do the French wine/cheese/beer/coffee etc. shop after all, since we now have to quarantine anyway.' thus arriving as far more of an infection risk than before.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@LaForet, or you could just follow the rules rolling eyes

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We have followed the rules. My point was that 'the rules' are a cinch to ignore. And as time goes on, more and more people will do so. All because there's really no effective monitoring in place. Not because monitoring is difficult, but because the Govt seems too lazy to be bothered. We weren't even asked to produce our Covid form at Eurotunnel Customs. Let alone get handed a self-test kit to use in a few days time. Which would have taken all of an extra 10 seconds on the check in process.

And above this, we're losing vital and easy opportunities to gather critical data. As an IT systems designer who's worked for Govt Ministries, including Borders Agency, it makes me sick to see these opportunities being lost out of pure laziness/incompetence. Why not make it mandatory for us to be given a self-test kit and to have to return it a few days later? Then, they'd know about the incidence of infection from holiday locations within a few days. Instead of relying on delayed, country-wide/regional stats from foreign agencies. A small effort would get this in place and the bugs ironed-out ahead of the coming winter, when such a capability might prove critical.

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@LaForet, ok..one could just follow the rules.

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@holidaylover Or not. And when there's no incentive to follow them, and no penalties for breaking them, what's the point of them?

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@LaForet, the incentive is to do right by your fellow man. If people don't respect that as a basic tenet of decency then it says slot about them

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@holidayloverxx, I think the problem is that, that the good, law abiding citizens see that it is ridiculously easy to get away with not following the rules, and realise that less honest people just get away with it. It ends up making a mockery of law and order.
What would happen if football matches had no referee, and no free kicks, yellow cards, or red cards?

@RobinS, I agree..but those of us that are law abiding should still follow the rules.

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How do they know it is you that has completed the self test kit? Paying someone to sit your exams has been a well known technique in some countries.

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France Covid-19 Travel restrictions

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