Anyone else now going to France?

[Ridingthecrestofawave]

Just wanting a quick poll on what people's thoughts are about going to France with current lockdown relaxations? - Euro tunnel, caravan 2 x hotel stop offs en route with 2 DC's .....All facilities on sites open apparently but gel, masks etc needed. Wondering will it be empty? Hard work and weird to follow rules? What would you do? x

@pettyprudence

Any fabric face covering is fine.

The disposable ones are pretty cheap and widely available in the supermarkets. Many shops have a range of fabric ones on sale.

Out and about you will see everything from the full plastic visors to a casual silk scarf. As long as you cover your nose and mouth you will be fine.

Also hand gel is freely available at most shop/bar/restaurant entrances (and easy to get hold of in the shops too).

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/06/travel-news-france-holidays-risk-two-month-high-new-cases/

Looks as though a decision will be made within the next 24 hours.

I think it’s coming isn’t it... tonight I reckon

We flew to France today 🙂 At check in the easyJet staff told us that the French authorities insist you wear the papery/ hospital type masks and were advising everyone in a fabric mask to change into a 'surgical' one as they called it. Also all kids over 6 had to wear masks on the plane.

However on arrival in France people actually seem to be wearing all types of masks- fabric, visors etc.

I was in France last week and wore a cloth mask all week, as did many other people I saw.

Yeah I think easyJet must have been mistaken- I saw several passport control officers and airport police with fabric masks on!

OK after a day of panicking, dh has changed our booking to come back on the ferry early. So 9-10 day break instead of 2 weeks. We just can't risk quarantine when we get back after 2 weeks because that will impact on school starting.

Easyjet Staff might actually be technically correct, or might be working on outdated info - I believe the original decree covering this from back in May did specify surgical mask on aircraft in airports and I'm not sure if that decree is still valid.

Fans of French legalise can knock themselves out with the following.
.
www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000041939818&categorieLien=id

Air France still state "surgical mask" on their website -

www.airfrance.co.uk/GB/en/common/page_flottante/hp/news-air-traffic-air-france.htm

Practically I hear from those who have flown recently that any suitable mask tends to be accepted at regional airports but there have also been stories that Municipal Police in some cities have begin to police the mask type requirement a bit more strictly in the last few days, especially on public transport, in some of those cities where the local rules have been enhanced.

The pragmatic solution might be to have a spare surgical mask tucked away in case the mask police come calling...

We flew back from France today - no problem with our fabric masks and it was about 50/50 as to whether people were wearing them or surgical masks.

DS there atm. We changed his flight to bring him back earlier. Fingers crossed all goes smoothly.

He will restrict his movements on return.

We've just worked out that if we shorten our holiday we can quarantine before school properly starts so we're having that as an option up our sleeves. I expect a quarantine is coming given the numbers.

Just seen the announcement for Belgium, Andorra & the Bahamas. Hoping that gives France a few more days grace (or even a week - is it reviewed weekly?).

Apparently they are all on holiday for two weeks so maybe no testing, no new cases 😂

@NotPennysBoat that’s what I was thinking/hoping. They announced that today and have given 2 days notice- so I’m hoping for another few days before they announce France. When are you scheduled to go?

@zippyswife we fly Saturday morning but are travelling to a hotel near the airport tomorrow.

@dingit a friend said this to me today too - I thought he was joking!! Is there any truth to that?

@NotPennysBoat I think You’re fine now. I don’t think they will bring in a France restriction before then. I go next Thursday so not as confident but I can’t help hoping!

@dingit who’s on holiday?

I'm off on Sunday. I don't suppose there will be a new restriction before then but one might come in while we are away. We will just have to suck it up and quarantine if that's the case.

The staff at the laboratories who do and analyse tests are on holiday in August (along with everyone else in France).

Gotta love the french. Nothing comes between them and their holidays

Excellent

Been following with interest. We're due to travel via France to the Netherlands next Friday so totally confused about our options if France is added to the no travel list.

We're not even getting out of the car, just docking at Calais and transiting through. Does anyone know if we'd be allowed to do that?

just docking at Calais and transiting through. Does anyone know if we'd be allowed to do that?

That of course is a French decision and they are keen to avoid another general lockdown.

FWIW and as far as I recall it during "Lockdown 1" the French rules on paper at least did allow transit through by those arriving from any EU country, plus the UK, plus Andorra, plus, plus etc...but that often wasn't much help as the "outbound" border was often closed.

It is always worth keeping an eye on The Local newspaper for France.
www.thelocal.fr/20200717/map-which-areas-of-france-are-of-concern-to-authorities-as-covid-19-cases-rise
We have family coming next week, but they will be in the gite and we will meet in the garden!