Effervescence Wednesday, December 23 among the French stranded for two days across the Channel, the day after the easing of trade restrictions with the United Kingdom. Ports, Channel Tunnel highways, Eurostar and air links have been reopened to allow French nationals or Britons living in France to return home, just in time for the holiday season.
But, to prevent the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus discovered in the southern British Isles and announced as “40% to 70% more contagious”, anyone returning from the UK will be required to test negative. The decree, published on Wednesday Official newspaper, provides that, before crossing the Channel, “The result of a biological screening test or examination carried out less than seventy-two hours before boarding [et] not concluding contamination by Covid ” should be presented “To the transport company”.
Only antigenic tests that can detect the mutation
A clarification could however delay the return of some French people: if the PCR tests are considered to be effective in detecting the new strain of the coronavirus, not all antigenic tests will be accepted. Only the “S[eront] those allowing the detection of the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 “, which identifies the new variant of the coronavirus.
This mutation is located in the spicules (spike proteins, in English) of the coronavirus, these spikes being on its surface and allowing it to attach to human cells to penetrate them – and therefore playing a key role in viral infection. “If these documents are not presented, boarding is refused and the person is escorted outside the areas concerned”, establishes the decree.
The French government, through the voice of Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs, recalled that it was not a question of“An encouragement to come for any reason.” But we are in the holiday season; we are always looking for solutions for our nationals. It is very supervised. It is considered to be sufficiently safe and reliable ”.
