French Border Police Block Travellers at Airport under New COVID Rules

Prime Minister Jean Castex has introduced new COVID19 restrictions in France to curb the spread of the virus even further.

Media platform France24 reported that the French border police turned away some passengers bound for destinations outside the EU on Monday after new rules banning flights to and from countries outside the bloc came into force at midnight. France has limited the reasons for travel outside the EU to urgent personal or family business, a health emergency or work-related voyages.

On Monday morning, Roissy Charles De Gaulle Airport prohibted some 20 people out of the 300 from flying to other countries. Among them was a Malian national who was not allowed to reach his ailing mother until he recieved a doctor certificate on WhatsApp as proof. Those who need to travel outside the borders of the EU on emergency purpose have to display official written proof regarding the reason for their trip.

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New restrictions include negative PCR tests, official permits stating the urgency and need for a trip. As a result of the new rules, queues have been increasing tenfold as documents are checked.

Valid personal reasons for travel include: The death or imminent death of a parent, grandparent or sibling (a doctor’s note or death certificate will be required); a child visiting a parent who has shared custody or visitation rights (a court letter and proof of address will be required); assistance for someone old, ill or handicapped; a judicial summons (the traveller will need to show the summons); a legal or economic reason that you cannot remain in the country, such as an expired visa, and more.

Unlike Britain and Germany, President Macron did not impose a nationwide lockdown. Instead, there has been a 6pm to 6am curfew imposed across the country.

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By curbing international travel, the government hopes to get a better grip on the circulation of the coronavirus and its new, more contagious variants. France has seen fewer cases of COVID19 in the last few weeks.