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UK now says no quarantine exemption for arrivals from France

The British government on Friday said that travellers arriving from France would not be exempt from a two-week quarantine measure over the Covid-19 virus pandemic, insisting that there had been a misunderstanding about a statement a week ago that said there was no requirement 'at this stage'.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

The British government on Friday said no exemption has been granted to French travellers arriving in the UK from proposed new two-week quarantine rules, reports FRANCE 24.

In an apparent step back from a previous position - announced at the weekend - London said there was no "French exemption".

"If you look at what was actually said in the joint statement on Sunday night, it said no quarantine measures apply to France at this stage and the key words in that sentence are 'at this stage'," said the prime minister's spokesman. "So there is no exemption agreed with France.

"What we have said is that we will be working together with the French on this issue in the coming weeks."

The spokesman said a working group would be set up between the two countries to ensure "consultation".

Boris Johnson said on Sunday that Britain was considering imposing a two-week quarantine on international arrivals into the UK, as part of its measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, something it has resisted so far.

Read more of this AFP report published by FRANCE 24.