Rail, air and sea services will resume this morning, with all people travelling from the UK into France required to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within the previous 72 hours.
Admittance into France will only be granted to those travelling for urgent reasons – including hauliers – French citizens, and British citizens with French residency.
The protocol agreed with the French government will be reviewed on 31 December, but could run until 6 January. All lorry drivers, irrespective of nationality, will require a lateral flow test.
This can detect the new strain of Covid-19 and provide results in around 30 minutes, rather than the 24 hours required after a PCR test.
The French government will also carry out sample testing on incoming freight to the UK.
The UK government continues to strongly urge hauliers not to travel to Kent until further notice, while a mass testing programme for HGV drivers gets under way to alleviate congestion at ports.
Lorry drivers in Kent are continuing to be directed to the Manston airport holding facility, where they have access to food and welfare facilities.
