The Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune has announced on 16 February, that the French government will soon remove the testing requirement currently imposed on the majority of travellers. According to the French Ministry of Interior, fully vaccinated travellers from a European Union country, including Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and the Vatican City State, can enter France for travel purposes provided that they hold a valid vaccination certificate.
Beaune also added that there would be a new protocol for fully vaccinated travellers who reach France from a third country.
Furthermore, travellers from other countries not included in the above list must undergo a test within 48 hours when travelling to France.
Meanwhile, the current national incidence rate is at almost 1,400 per 100,000 inhabitants but continues to fall. Hence, the lifting of restrictions enables more domestic activities like nightclubs, which have been closed for more than two months, can now reopen. Restrictions on the consumption of food on trains and cinemas, as well as on dancing and standing in bars and restaurants, were lifted.
At the end of February, the obligation to wear masks indoors in places that require the vaccine pass will be lifted, while the number of self-tests required for school pupils that come in contact with COVID-19 will be reduced from three to one. However, at this stage, masks remain mandatory on public transport and in enclosed areas not subject to the vaccine pass.
The pre-entry testing requirement applies to all travellers from a non-EU country, even if they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from the virus. Those who are already vaccinated shall present proof of vaccination status and a sworn statement certifying the absence of COVID-19 symptoms and any contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. A negative PCR or antigen test taken less than 48 hours old is required, except for arrivals from a Member State of the European Union. The new rules on vaccination certificates validity apply to all persons over the age of 18, whereas those under 12 do not need to be vaccinated in order to be permitted entry to France.
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