Travel will be restricted from the United Kingdom to France "
until at least January 6,
" the Home Office announced on Thursday, December 24, after the appearance of a new variant of the coronavirus across the Channel which caused the blocking of thousands of trucks in Dover.
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"
Until January 6, 2021 minimum, a device limiting the resumption of flows between the United Kingdom and France is in force,
" said the ministry on its website.
The border between the two countries had been closed urgently on Sunday and had so far only reopened in small quantities, for some French people wishing to return to France.
Thousands of European truckers have been stranded for four days in summary conditions near the British port of Dover.
Travel between the two countries will now resume gradually, but will be limited.
Only French nationals, British nationals residing in France, people who want to transit through France to return to their residence in an EU member state and those who travel for professional reasons, will be able to cross the border between the United Kingdom and France.
They must be "
provided with a travel certificate
" and a negative PCR test "
carried out less than 72 hours before boarding,
" said the Interior Ministry.
They will also have to sign a sworn statement certifying that they are not in contact with a person contaminated by Covid-19.
Under pressure, British authorities announced earlier today that cross-Channel rail and sea links would continue on Friday, while public transport traditionally remains at a standstill in the UK on Christmas Day.
According to the UK Department for Transport, some 6,000 heavy goods vehicles were waiting early Wednesday evening to cross the border, including 3,750 vehicles parked at the old Manston airport, where lorry drivers can take a test, the others lining up in long queues on the roads of Kent.
Some 2,364 road vehicles had been tested by midday on Thursday, three of which tested positive, according to British Transport Minister Grant Shapps.
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