France will require on-the-spot Covid-19 tests for travellers coming from 16 countries where the virus is circulating widely, including the United States, French prime minister Jean Castex said on Friday, reports FRANCE 24.
Travellers from countries where the infection rate is deemed to be high will be subject to compulsory testing on arrival at French airports and sea ports, Castex told reporters during a visit to Charles-de-Gaulle international airport, north of Paris.
The tests will apply to "French citizens who live in these countries or citizens of these countries with an established residence in France" who will be the only ones allowed to enter, the prime minister added.
France does not allow general travel to and from these countries, which include the United States and Brazil.
Travellers who test positive will be required to spend 14 days in isolation to prevent the spread of the virus.
Castex said some of the high-risk countries already require airline passengers to show a negative virus test before boarding. It was not clear if they would be re-tested upon arrival in France.