Brits travelling to France are warned that they may have to quarantine on return after recent coronavirus spike
BRITISH tourists headed to France have been warned they may have to quarantine on their return to the UK.
The European country reported its highest daily increase since May 30 of 1,695 new cases this week - as fears of a second wave of infections intensify.
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Brits can currently travel to and from France without quarantining on arrival or return, and there are no bans in place.
There are also no entry restrictions regarding coronavirus tests or entry forms needed to be filled out.
But The Times reports that France has been placed in the category of nations that are being “closely monitored” by Whitehall officials.
A senior aviation source also told the paper that Brits should only book holidays that can be easily rearranged at 24 hours’ notice.
Ministers, however, have reportedly not discussed whether to warn against travelling to the country which experienced one of Europe’s most severe outbreaks.
But should cases continue to soar, it may come into consideration due to the volume of travel between the UK and France - which is the second top holiday spot for Brits.
'PRECARIOUS'
France’s own scientific committee issued a stark warning earlier this week that the country was experiencing a second surge in cases.
They said: “The situation is precarious and we could at any moment tip into a scenario that is less under control, like in Spain.”
Spain was put back onto the UK's travel ban list on July 26, followed by the Balearic and Canary Islands on July 27, with holidaymakers given just four hours notice.
The decision was prompted when the tourist paradise's seven-day rolling average hit 37.1 cases per 100,000 people.
Hundreds of Brits were left facing a mandatory two-week quarantine when returning home after the travel ban.
It comes as France’s seven day rolling average of cases hit 18.8 per 100,000 people yesterday.
This is above the UK, which stands at 12.3 cases per 100,000 people.
With Belgium expected to be next on the travel ban list, with 14-day quarantines also, France may soon follow suit.
France is now enforcing new restrictions and facing a second lockdown.
Face masks have been enforced on busy streets in Lille, Nice and Toulouse, with Paris looking at similar measures being imminently introduced.
The latest advice from the Foreign Office regarding holidays to France explains: "From 4 July, France is exempt from the FCO advice against all non-essential international travel. This is based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks.
"There is no quarantine requirement for arrivals from the UK.
"Travellers arriving in France from the UK, [...] are no longer required to self-isolate, to demonstrate their travel is essential or to hold an international travel certificate."
This could change at the last minute, however.
Flights are still running to France from the UK with Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways.
The Eurostar has resumed services from the UK to France, and Disneyland Paris reopened to guests last month.
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Other European countries are also seeing an increase in cases, prompting fears of a second wave.
Greece's active cases have been rising since May 1, with 121 new cases confirmed this week.
Cyprus is increasing airport arrival tests and enforcing face masks after they also reported a spike in cases, continuing to rise since July 2.