France has imposed a ban on all but essential travel from outside the EU

As of today, Jan 31, France has imposed a ban on all but essential travel from outside the EU and testing requirements on travellers from within the EU will be tightened.

These measures apply to the French overseas departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Prime Minister Jean Castex said France’s night curfew would be more tightly enforced and large shopping centres would close.

But the measures were seen as mild.

The new border restrictions will affect the UK, now no longer in the EU, but its transport minister clarified on Twitter that the change would not impact hauliers transporting goods to or from the UK.

Mr. Castex said that from Sunday, apart from exceptional reasons, “any entry into France and any exit from our territory to or from a country outside the European Union will be prohibited”.

A number of countries are exempted, as they are not considered at risk, they are Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand.