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Coronavirus – Several European countries announced the closure of their relations with the United Kingdom on Sunday, December 20, again partially reintegrated, in the face of a new strain of coronavirus. Paris did the same in the evening by announcing a suspension for 48 hours of all traffic from the United Kingdom. All modes of transport including passengers and cargo are concerned.
The decision caused havoc to the French living across the channel, who wanted to end the year celebrations in France. While those in London and the south-east of England were already banned from traveling to the rest of the country and abroad due to re-joining, those in the rest of the countries may still have some hope. And one priority is not all lost yet.
A common solution with the European Union
In his press release published this Sunday, Mattigan recalls that this suspension is for a period of 48 hours until 22 December.
Above all, this lapse of time indicated that Jean Castex’s cabinet would have to “allow a time of coordination” between EU countries to “define a common European Union”. It is also a question of “preparing for a safe reopening of flows from the United Kingdom”, which will “initially be based on a mandatory testing system”.
We invite all French citizens to perform a PCR test that may be required at the end of a 48-hour precautionary period to enter any region from the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/HRiIaZhOD9
– Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) 20 December 2020
“We will pay special attention to the specific situation of French citizens who plan to return to France to spend the end of the year holidays with their families. Now we are urging them to arrange for a PCR test in the coming days.
This advice was also reiterated by the government’s spokesman Gabriel Attal on the French plateau. Whatever solution we choose, it is very likely that PCR testing will be mandatory. That is why, I think that without delay, the time limit is very short, we invite them to the test ”, he insisted.
For example, Spain is one of the European countries that has not suspended its relations with the United Kingdom. On the other hand, it has strengthened the demand for testing before departure and required to present negative results obtained 72 hours before.
Refunded train ticket
Before the link was reopened, the French of the United Kingdom could at least be reimbursed for their train tickets. Presented this Sunday evening on BFMTV, SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou confirmed that all tickets affected by this suspension will be returned.
In this regard, Jebberi, Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste, specified on LCI that he had asked “all operators” (SNCF, Eurostar, airlines and shipping companies) to “inform their customers” in this way. They know that “tickets are clearly interchangeable and refundable”, and that “we can build a return solution with them in the coming days”.
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