France and Britain in new Covid-19 war of words

First it was the ongoing Brexit "negotiations". Now Britain is involved in a new travel war of words with France.

It was announced yesterday that anyone arriving into the UK from France after 4am on Saturday would have to be placed in immediate quarantine.

Don't ask me how it has taken the Brits so long to bring in this measure - they appear to be governed by a bunch of moronic trouser ferrets.

Anyway, the French have taken umbrage (not for the first time, it must be said) with French junior minister for European affairs Clément Beaune Tweeting: "A British decision that we regret and which will lead to a measure of reciprocity, hoping that things will return to normal as soon as possible."

French authorities could now insist UK arrivals to France would need to self-isolate for 14 days which, along with the UK government's new ruling, would make travel between both countries unlikely for most people, Travel Mole reported.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the UK government had no choice, after France reported a 66% increase in new coronavirus cases over the past week, with a daily average of four times the figures in May.

France has declared Paris and the area around Marseille as coronavirus 'red zones'.

Shapps said: "It's a dynamic situation, and I don't think that anybody would want us to do anything other than protect public health and public safety.

"That does mean where we see countries breach a certain level of cases ... then we have no real choice but to act."

There were reports of Brits scrambling to ports and train departure points in a bid to get back the UK before the Saturday 4am deadline.

Trade bodies have responded with frustration at the government's latest quarantine list announcement, which has also seen five other countries added: the Netherlands, Malta, Monaco, Turks & Caicos and Aruba.

Airlines UK Chief Executive Tim Alderslade said: "It's another devastating blow to the travel industry already reeling from the worst crisis in its history."

It is estimated that there are about 160,000 British holidaymakers currently in France.