UK

Quarantine measures will not apply between France and the UK

 The Princess Royal talks to (left to right) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (partly obscured) during a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, as Nato leaders attend to mark 70 years of the alliance.
 The Princess Royal talks to (left to right) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (partly obscured) during a reception at Buckingham Palace, London,  The Princess Royal talks to (left to right) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (partly obscured) during a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, as Nato leaders attend to mark 70 years of the alliance.

Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed quarantine measures would not apply between France and the UK “at this stage”, according to a joint statement.

Downing Street issued the statement after the pair spoke on Sunday.

“The leaders spoke about the need to manage the risk of new transmissions arising from abroad, as the rate of coronavirus decreases domestically,” it read.

“In this regard, the Prime Minister and the President agreed to work together in taking forward appropriate border measures. This co-operation is particularly necessary for the management of our common border.

“No quarantine measures would apply to travellers coming from France at this stage; any measures on either side would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner. A working group between the two governments will be set up to ensure this consultation throughout the coming weeks.”

It will be some weeks before travellers arriving in the UK will face being quarantined, officials said.

The 14-day quarantine period will only come into effect once the domestic rate of coronavirus transmission is low and people are arriving from countries with a higher rate of infection.

Whitehall sources said the plans were still being worked on and will be based on the scientific and medical advice.

Although the British Prime Minister suggested quarantine measures being imposed on “people coming into this country by air”, officials said that was just to give an example and it was possible that other forms of travel would be included.