Paris: France has reportedly decided to close its borders for the people arriving from outside the European Union starting Sunday as a precaution to stop the spread of new variants of the coronavirus.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the measure on Friday night after an emergency government health security meeting at the presidential palace, warning of a “great risk” from the new variants.
However, all those arriving from other EU countries will be required to produce a negative virus test, he said.
France already had limits on cross-border travel because of the virus, and imposed tougher checks in airports and ports last week. France will also close all large shopping centers starting Sunday and limit travel to, and from, its overseas territories.
Virus infections, hospitalizations and deaths have been rising steadily but not sharply in France in recent weeks, and many doctors have been urging a new nationwide shutdown like those imposed in several other European countries.
Citing the economic devastation of such measures, Castex said, “Our duty is to put everything in place to avoid a new lockdown, and the coming days will be decisive.”
