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Both countries are trying to slow the spread of Omicron.

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is gradually making its way around the world, with at least one case confirmed in most major first world countries. The United Kingdom in particular is in the midst of an Omicron-boosted COVID surge; on Wednesday, the country recorded approximately 78,610 new COVID cases, at least 10,000 of which are confirmed to be with the Omicron variant. By contrast, France has recorded approximately 65,713 new COVID cases, but only about 240 were Omicron. As such, France has decided to tighten its borders to stave off Omicron for as long as possible.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced today that new travel restrictions would be going into effect specifically between France and the UK. Starting Saturday, any travelers from the UK who are not French nationals won’t be able to enter France, barring extenuating circumstances. All travelers into France must be able to provide a negative COVID test no more than a day old, and will be required to self-isolate for two days.

“As the Omicron variant spreads extremely quickly in the United Kingdom, the French government has decided to re-implement compelling reasons for travels from and to the United Kingdom, and to reinforce mandatory tests at departures and arrivals,” Castex said in a statement.

The only ones who will be at least partially exempt from these new restrictions are students and truck drivers, the latter being allowed passage in order to keep the global supply chain problems from worsening further.