What Travellers Need to Know About the UK’s Quarantine Rules For France

France has been added to the U.K.’s quarantine list.

Under the new restrictions, which began 15 August 2020, travellers returning to the U.K from France are required to self-isolate for 14 days or they will be subject to a fine, The Guardian reported. The France quarantine was established after a coronavirus surge in the country.

The coronavirus pandemic has created colossal obstacles and setbacks in many industries, and two of those hit the hardest have been travel and tourism.

Yet another setback has delayed the efforts to get back to freely travelling this summer. The U.K. government created the France quarantine rule for all travellers after a coronavirus surge tallying 2,669 new cases diagnosed, according to CNN.

The U.K. Department of Transport has updated the guidance to include the France quarantine, along with the Netherlands and Malta due to the coronavirus surge.

Here’s everything you need to know regarding the France quarantine rule.

Why Was France Added to the Coronavirus Quarantine List?

The France quarantine has been put in place due to record highs in a coronavirus surge.

The U.K. uses reference points based on per capita virus numbers.

According to the U.K. government, over 20 cases per 100,000 place the country in a high-risk category.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the coronavirus surge pushed France to 32.1 cases per capita. The travel ban was confirmed after a total of 2,669 cases of coronavirus were diagnosed as reported Thursday.

The U.K. government is advising against travel to France, Monaco, Malta and the Netherlands except for essential travel, the BBC reported.

With France being one of the most popular holiday spots in Europe, thousands of travellers might have to cancel and readjust their travel plans.

How Many U.K. Holidaymakers Will Be Affected by the France Quarantine Rules?

The exact number is unknown, but France is a favourite travel destination for Britons and August is the most popular month to travel to the country.

It is estimated that the France quarantine will affect hundreds of thousands of travellers, The Guardian reported.

PC Agency chief executive Paul Charles told The Guardian about 500,000 Britons have scheduled a holiday to France this week.

What if I’m Already in France? 

Anyone already in the country who did not make it back before the France quarantine was set in place will have to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival into the U.K.

The coronavirus surge and France quarantine were unforeseen circumstances and many went ahead and made plans to continue with holidays, so the U.K. government has advised employers to be considerate to employees who are arriving from the countries on the quarantine list. 

Britons in France right now can check travel advice at gov.uk for information.

What if I Already Have Plans to Travel to France?

U.K. travellers with holiday plans to travel to France and the other banned countries will face travel restrictions.

Unless the travel is considered essential, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travelling during the France quarantine guidelines, according to The Guardian. 

If you travel anyway, you will have to face the 14-day quarantine after coming back to the U.K.

This means working from home and not leaving your home unless it is to get essential items like food or medicine.

Visitors will not be allowed, and children will not be able to go to school.

If you choose to break quarantine rules, you could be fined as much as £1,000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the BBC reported. The fine is around £480 in Scotland.

Will I Be Entitled to Refunds?

Most ferry companies are offering rebookings or vouchers for tickets valid through 31 August.

However, Brittany Ferries is not offering refunds or vouchers unless you purchased a refundable ticket, according to The Guardian.

If you have an airline ticket, you will not necessarily receive a refund due to the France quarantine, although some airlines might be flexible. Airlines are not cancelling flights, so they are not obligated to give refunds to customers who decide not to fly, The Guardian reported.

If you have a hotel accommodation, check the terms of your reservation.

Most hotels are not required to issue refunds. Some companies, such as Airbnb, are allowing cancellations for customers who booked in March, but a full refund is usually not likely, according to The Guardian.

Always check with the accommodation to see what your options are.

Did you plan a holiday in France? How were you affected by the France quarantine? Tell us your story in the comments.

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