France is set to reopen its borders to people travelling from the United Kingdom on Wednesday, ending a blockade imposed on the UK in response to the new strain of the coronavirus that stopped trade across the Channel and led to concerns about the supply of fresh food.
About 40 countries shut its borders to Britain after the authorities revealed a new strain of the virus had been spreading swiftly across south eastern England.
With pressure on delivery of cross border goods, just days before Christmas,
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been trying to get French President Emmanuel Macron to lift the ban on freight trade from Britain.
Late on Tuesday, however, a deal was reached with Paris to allow French and other EU residents to travel, providing they have a negative Covid-19 test that is less than 72 hours old.
French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari confirmed that air travel, boats and Eurostar trains will resume service.
French nationals, people living in France and those with a legitimate reason will have to be carrying a negative test he added.
Also, on Tuesday the UK announced it had reached an agreement with France to allow lorry drivers irrespective of nationality stranded in the UK to leave, providing they take a lateral flow test which can detect the new strain of Covid-19 and provide results in around 30 minutes, rather than the 24 hours required after a PCR test.
The deal is said to be reviewed on 31 December.
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