France closes borders to most non-EU travel

France is imposing new Covid-19 border restrictions from Sunday, but has again resisted a new nationwide lockdown.

All but essential travel from outside the EU will be banned and testing requirements on travellers from within the EU will be tightened, reports BBC.

PM Jean Castex said France's night curfew would be more tightly enforced and large shopping centres would close.

But the measures were seen as mild and favouring the economy. Some doctors fear they will not curb infections.

The new border restrictions will affect the UK, now no longer in the EU, but its transport minister clarified on Twitter that the change would not impact hauliers transporting goods to or from the UK.

Mr Castex said that from Sunday, apart from exceptional reasons, "any entry into France and any exit from our territory to or from a country outside the European Union will be prohibited".

A number of countries are exempted, as they are not considered at risk, they are Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand.

In addition, arrivals from inside the EU, and several other states - Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, the Vatican and Switzerland - will have to present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

All arrivals, not just by air and sea, but by land too, must comply with the test rule.

There are exemptions, including cross-border workers and hauliers, and other groups such as students, health workers and diplomats, although the list is not fully defined.

The new Covid variants are, of course, the main motivating factor, and travel to the UK, which has been hit by the UK - or Kent - variant, is "strongly discouraged".

There were few specific details about how the measures would be enforced, particularly on those arriving by road and having to provide test results.

The shopping centre rule will affect some 400 malls and 25,000 businesses. Small traders welcomed not being included.

The other measures appeared more general, with French media saying they were fairly mild and an attempt to slow the virus without harming the economy further.

For now schools remain open across the country.

Some health sector experts were unconvinced the measures would be of use in controlling rising infections.

Mahmoud Zureik, professor of public health at the University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin, told BFMTV: "Unfortunately I fear it is too late. It is not enough."

France reported 820 new deaths on Friday, taking the total recorded nationally to more than 75,000. It has recorded the sixth highest number of infections in the world.

More than 25,000 people are in hospital with the virus - including more than 3,000 in intensive care - but Mr Castex said the health situation was "better controlled in France than in many of our neighbours".