REPORTAGE
In a few hours, a fortnight will be required for all travelers from France to the United Kingdom. Decision of the British government, this health measure follows a worrying upsurge of the coronavirus epidemic in mainland France, but also in other countries targeted by the United Kingdom, such as Monaco, the Netherlands, or Malta. Announced Thursday evening, it applies from Saturday at 4 am, leaving around thirty hours for impacted travelers to adapt if necessary. Caught by surprise, many Britons are now trying to get home as quickly as possible, as Europe 1 has seen.
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"I think it's a completely unnecessary quarantine"
On the platform of the Gare du Nord in Paris, Simon is fuming. “We had to cancel two hotel nights”, explains the young Briton at the microphone of Europe 1. “This morning, when I looked at the internet on my phone, I saw that the measures had changed… I think that it is a completely useless quarantine ", plague it, while he visited for the first time the French capital.
But Simon is not the only one to have had to change all his plans: the compulsory isolation will miss the first days of the start of the school year for children whose families have planned to return in the second part of August. And one thing is certain: not all will be back in the UK on time. Eurotunnel, which provides the shuttles under the Channel, warns that there are no more tickets available for sale. "Customers will not be able to board the shuttles without a valid reservation," the company tweeted.
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Will travelers from the UK soon be affected?
Tourists currently in Britain could also decide to go presto in France because Paris did not appreciate this new fall Thursday night. This is "a British decision that we regret and which will lead to a measure of reciprocity, hoping for a return to normal as soon as possible", tweeted the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune. French travelers leaving for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales could therefore also undergo a fortnight on their return from Great Britain.
A British decision that we regret and which will lead to a reciprocal measure, hoping for a return to normal as soon as possible @Djebbari_JBhttps: //t.co/6pA0qDQun6
- Clement Beaune (@CBeaune) August 13, 2020"The love of children is stronger than the forties"
But that will not prevent Caroline from maintaining her departure on Friday and going to see her children, who live in London. "If I have to stay in quarantine for 15 days on my return, I would do it," she explains to the microphone of Europe 1. "I find it quite normal to set these kinds of conditions, the love of children is stronger than quarantine, ”she concludes.