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France is outlawing using speedy – however less-accurate – Covid-19 checks for non-EU travellers, elevating the danger of a return to the pre-Christmas chaos in Kent.
Grant Shapps stated he believed there can be an exemption for lorry-drivers to proceed to obtain the 30-minute checks – however admitted that was the scenario solely “for the time being”.
Last month, tens of hundreds of drivers had been stranded in Kent and there have been clashes with the police when France banned lorry drivers to attempt to cease the unfold of the brand new UK pressure of coronavirus.
The disaster was solely resolved when hauliers got the speedy lateral movement checks, which Paris has now determined to ban for arrivals from exterior the EU.
Mr Shapps, the Transport Secretary, stated his French counterpart would go to on Monday to see “how we are applying” the 30-minute checks.
“That’s the system in place and that’s what’s continuing for the time being,” he instructed BBC Breakfast.
Jean Castex, the French prime minister, stated on Thursday night time that its nationwide night-time curfew would start at 6pm on Saturday and stay in drive for at the very least two weeks.
A adverse PCR, or laboratory, check lower than 72 hours previous can be required for arrivals from non-EU locations – the identical system the UK is introducing from Monday.
Everybody with a adverse consequence must self-isolate for seven days and would then take, and cross, a second PCR check.
Crucially, the unique French journey ban got here earlier than the UK left the EU single market and customs union, on New Year’s Day, making a mountain of latest paperwork for companies.
Now Brexit has been accomplished, ministers are already planning “emergency” measures to forestall feared meals shortages, to permit empty lorries crossing the Channel to restock to skip queues at key ports.
Rod McKenzie, of the Road Haulage Association [RHA], condemned present queues for truckers at Waterbrook Park, which is getting used for customs checks till the tip of February.
“This is shocking: Ashford truck stop today with drivers queuing for up to 8 hours to get their border paperwork cleared, then having to get COVID test afterwards for France,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Kent Police revealed that they’d issued 407 fines to HGV drivers who didn’t receive a legitimate Kent Access Permit earlier than getting into the county.
Mr Shapps, requested a couple of ban on lateral movement checks, stated “of course that would cause problems”.
“That remains in place at the moment and that’s very important because it enables goods to flow backwards and forwards between us and continental Europe,” he stated.
Asked concerning the new UK checks, from Monday, the Transport Secretary defined: “The service would want to initially test that you simply had a coronavirus check…earlier than you might be truly in a position to get on the flight.
“And, only if you can show within the last 72 hours a negative test, and only if that test is up to very specific standards, may you board that plane.”
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