This is the latest France travel advice as ‘Phase II’ of easing lockdown with cafe reopenings begins
Despite many lockdown measures still remaining across Britain, people are already thinking about the potential of summer travel.
With no real end in sight to the current coronavirus crisis, it’s understandable.
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Hide AdHaving been cooped up for months, and with a handful of other countries slowly relaxing their own virus-tackling measures, the public are itching to get away from it all.
But just how likely is is that we’ll see the usual summer holidays in 2020?
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has indicated that the summer season for holidays abroad is very likely to be cancelled, telling ITV's This Morning that it is "unlikely that big, lavish, international holidays are going to be possible this summer."
Here's the latest travel advice:
What are lockdown restrictions like in France?
In France, lockdown measures have been slowly relaxing over the past few weeks, after one of the strictest quarantines in the world.
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Hide AdThe latest development sees bans on journeys of more than 100km/62 miles ending from today (2 June), along with cafes, bars and restaurants in ‘green areas’ – where the virus is not circulating widely – also reopening on the same date.
No more than 10 people will be allowed to sit together, and tables must be spaced one metre apart, with staff wearing masks.
Establishments in ‘orange areas’ – such as Paris – will only be able to reopen outside terraces.
Secondary schools will resume all classes from 2 June – but with health measures like a maximum of 15 pupils per class – though in orange areas most classes won’t begin until September.
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Hide AdWhat's the 'official' travel advice to France?
It’s also been announced that France’s external borders will remain closed until 15 June; on this date, it is hoped they will be able reopen to EU nationals in coordination with the other EU27 states.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently advises British people against all non-essential travel worldwide. This advice took effect on 17 March, and while it initially applied for a period of 30 days, the travel ban is now listed as “indefinite”.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions,” said the FCO. “All countries may restrict travel without notice.”
That indefinite ruling remains in place, even as other countries begin to relax their measures; there's no telling how things will play out.
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Hide AdTransport Secretary Grant Shapps recently said he would certainly not be booking a summer holiday at present.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on 17 April, Mr Shapps said that "clearly people will want to see what the trajectory of this disease is in the next few weeks".
"I won't be booking a summer holiday at this point, let's put it that way."
How does the UK’s quarantine work?
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced plans to introduce mandatory two-week self isolation for all new arrivals into the UK from 8 June, bar a short list of exemptions, to stem the spread of Covid-19.
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Hide AdPassengers will have to provide their contact and travel information so they can be traced if infections arise, and could face random checks from public health authorities to ensure their compliance during the 14-day period.
Breaches will be punishable with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England, or prosecution with an unlimited fine – devolved nations can set out their own enforcement approaches.
Border Force will be able to refuse entry to foreign citizens who are not UK residents during border checks while removal from the country could be used as a last resort, the Home Office said.
Anyone arriving by air, sea or rail will be advised to use personal transport to head to their accommodation and once there not leave for 14 days, the likely maximum incubation period for Covid-19.