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Original poster

Anyone risking heading to France in the near future?

136 replies

MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 10:17

Just that really.... we are booked to sail this Sunday.

Before anyone vilifies me for even considering going away during a pandemic, we are visiting my inlaws who live in a very low risk region of France. We havent seem them since Christmas, they are both late 70s and my husband feels we should go over and check up on them / spend a week with them. We've had the ferry booked since January, but I guess can shift it (to when, I don't know!) / suck it up and take the monetary hit.

What is everyone elses thoughts re: France being added to the list? I've read way too much in the media / am feeling too emotional about it to make a decent judgement today....

OP posts:
Cactus99 · 07/08/2020 13:17

pontypridd

You could pick it up at the supermarket or petrol station in France, even if your leisure activities are isolated.

pontypridd · 07/08/2020 13:19

We've got more chance of picking it up here though Cactus - where we interact with people 10/20 times more.

cologne4711 · 07/08/2020 13:24

If you had to quarantine and walk the dog, would PHE ask to speak to everyone in the house? I would have thought you'd get away with one person going out at 6am and 10pm.

France is an awkward one as some people will only be transiting and maybe using the loo somewhere but that's it. Same goes for Belgium to some extent, eg if you were visiting Cologne you may get the train back via Brussels (though you have to change trains so you probably would be coming into contact with people).

sashagabadon · 07/08/2020 13:27

@pontypridd

Sorry - Delatron to question you - but what are you scared of?

No one's going to come round and check on you. There'll be thousands coming back and being quarantined.

I'm all for being safe and staying in but you can take your dog out at 6am can't you? Seriously - whose going to find out about that?

Police definitely checking. Friend that is police officer gets 1 or 2 to check each shift. She doesn't know if random or if they have been reported by neighbours etc. But they definitely are checking!
PaddyF0dder · 07/08/2020 13:27

@pontypridd

The whole “we’ll keep to ourselves and not need to quarantine” thing is exactly what I mean by “part of the problem”.

You are not special. No one is. We are all vectors. But so many people think their situation is somehow unique and that the rules therefore don’t apply. It’s tiresome.

pontypridd · 07/08/2020 13:30

But can’t you see we’d be mixing and more of a risk spending 2 weeks here?

The kids keep seeing their friends we’re out and about with people all the time. Just as the government has encouraged us to be.

Fiftysixthnamechange · 07/08/2020 13:36

We are due to fly on tuesday. We will still go unless the quarantine is announced before then. Travel insurance is null and void if FCO recommend against all but essential travel and it's just not worth the risk with children. If quarantine is announced whilst we are there, Insurance is valid until we come home.

Bobbybobbins · 07/08/2020 13:39

We had a trip booked to France and cancelled. We were going to be staying at a multi national holiday camp type place with our two disabled DS who can't wear masks so it was a no brainer really.

I am a teacher and the two weeks potential quarantine would make me miss the start of term which would not have gone down well at work!!

myfriendflicka9 · 07/08/2020 13:43

We are in the same boat as many on this thread - due to go for last 2 weeks August (and booked well before coronavirus arrived). Happy to quarantine upon return but not happy for teenage DCs to miss 2 weeks of school. Praying that the government announces travel restrictions before we go so we can get our money back or at least a voucher...can’t justify throwing away the money and not going “just in case”....horrible dilemma. Ironically we are much more at risk of catching Covid here - DH key worker and takes public transport daily and DCs are out and about with friends daily. At least in France we will be in a remote house in the middle of nowhere! (And will have driven there)

ChateauMargaux · 07/08/2020 13:52

I just wanted to say I completely understand, both your DH's desire to see his parents and your horror at the possibility of quarantine. I have no wisdom, just sympathy at the total brain ache of life being just so dam complicated at the moment that nothing is a simple decision.

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 14:05

thanks @ChateauMargaux We're damned if we go, damned if we don't

To be honest, I no longer think its a question of 'if' france are added to the quarantine list, more a question of 'when'.....

OP posts:
GU24Mum · 07/08/2020 14:15

@MajorClanger123 - that's what we're thinking too and would rather be put out of our misery and at least try and book some sort of very short thing in the UK even if that turns out to be camping in MIL's garden....!

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 14:20

@GU24Mum If we knew we would have 24-48 hours between announcing and it coming into affect, we'd probably go. And hope that a last minute ferry / tunnel crossing was available. Given Spain was 5 hours notice, I just don't want to take the risk.

Plus I suppose it'd be mayhem at port / tunnel terminals

OP posts:
Wallywobbles · 07/08/2020 14:29

My reading of the French stats is there are currently 249 households with CoVid. That is tiny. I can't find an equivalent stat for 🇬🇧 in terms of households. But currently there are between 1000-5000 cases in Luton alone. And 25k symptomatic people in the UK.

I'm fairly sure France is not the problem.

Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 14:37

@Wallywobbles The way I understood it is:
France currently has approx 22 in every 100,000 people infected with COVID
UK currently has 14 in every 100,000

Multiply that up by the 67m that lives in France / UK, and you get:
14,740 infected in France
9,380 infected in UK

Obviously this is only reliant on the stats being correct.....which I agree is highly unlikely!

OP posts:
DaisyCrazyLazy · 07/08/2020 14:41

what about school though? Would you risk sending the kids? We fly to france on 23rd to Toulouse... back the following sunday... kids start school monday 7th sept which is 8 days after returning... I wouldn't really want them to miss the whole first week but would it look shabby to send them in on the weds, so after 10 days self isolating??

PaddyF0dder · 07/08/2020 14:43

@DaisyCrazyLazy

Well, would the quarantine be 10 days or 14 days?

Fiftysixthnamechange · 07/08/2020 14:46

@DaisyCrazyLazy

what about school though? Would you risk sending the kids? We fly to france on 23rd to Toulouse... back the following sunday... kids start school monday 7th sept which is 8 days after returning... I wouldn't really want them to miss the whole first week but would it look shabby to send them in on the weds, so after 10 days self isolating??
It's not about looking shabby..... If quarantine is for 14 days then you will all have to stay at home for 14 days. Nobody is allowed to leave, there are fines and checks on all members of the household. No shopping, not even allowed out to walk the dog!
Original poster
MajorClanger123 · 07/08/2020 14:52

@DaisyCrazyLazy we're only going for a week, due back 16th August, so our quarantine would mean we don't miss school. I still don't want to risk having to quarantine though!

OP posts:
DaisyCrazyLazy · 07/08/2020 14:54

I honestly don't mind quarantining... we could totally cope with that.

What about if we were to get a test on day 10 to prove we were negative? Then could they go to school?

PaddyF0dder · 07/08/2020 14:57

@DaisyCrazyLazy

Just obey the rules. That’s what we all owe to each other.

Wallywobbles · 07/08/2020 15:01

Dont Forget French stats include the overseas territories.

Good regional info here.

www.coronavirus-statistiques.com/stats-globale/nombre-de-cas-coronavirus-par-region-par-departement/#

Here are the daily national stats

www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus/carte-et-donnees

no new hospital deaths or admissions yesterday

myfriendflicka9 · 07/08/2020 15:01

I think that the government should make a decision one way or another during this upcoming week. State schools go back at the start of September (even sooner in Scotland) and not everyone can afford to lose their money by cancelling before the government issues a travel ban.

Wallywobbles · 07/08/2020 15:08

Looks like the heatwave is more of an issue

Anyone risking heading to France in the near future?
candycane222 · 07/08/2020 15:09

In your DH's situation, and this was at all possible I think I would go alone, and try to find a self-catered stay very near his parents and visit from there so he can interact with them outdoors, check stuff on their house etc, but does not need to go in and 'share air', door handles, etc etc.

I did this with my (80+y & vulnerable) Mum recently (admittedly she's in England, but still far enough to require an overnight or two) and was able to do lots of outdoor stuff for her, and spend a good bit of time chatting as well. It was actually really lovely, and I'm about to do it again.