“MASS ESCAPE” CAUSES BOLT-UP AT THE UK-FRANCE BORDER
The Alpha variant, which is 30-40 times more infectious than the original strain, emerged in Kent in September 2020 and is responsible for the second wave of Covid-19 in the UK. Despite the containment measures in place, Alpha became a “threat” spreading across Europe in late winter 2020 (similar to the emergence of the new Omicron variant today) before the emergence of the new Delta variant from spring 2021.
A long line of trucks waiting for hours at the entrance to the port of Dover in Kent, UK, in an effort to "race against time" to get to France before the "ban" comes into effect at midnight on December 17.
During the last weekend before Christmas, France re-imposed a “lockdown” on most visitors from the UK, starting after midnight on Friday, December 17, to prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant. The UK had previously recorded 78,610 new Covid-19 cases on December 15. Experts predict that the infection rate will increase even more because the “threat” Omicron is said to spread much faster than the Delta variant that is still dominant.
Travelers queue to board the Eurostar train at St Pancras international railway station, England, ahead of the French "ban" which comes into effect from midnight on December 17.
Under the new rules, from midnight on December 18, visitors from the UK must demonstrate a “compelling reason” to enter France, and must present proof of a negative test result taken within 24 hours of departure, regardless of their vaccination status. Travel is not considered a “compelling reason”, but the new rules do not apply to French citizens and their spouses or children.
Tourists who managed to travel from the UK to France by Eurostar arrived at Paris Gare du Nord station on December 17.
Flights, trains and ferries to France sold out within hours of the new restrictions being announced on December 17. Bookings for the Eurostar (the London-Paris high-speed train) and the Cross-Channel ferry service skyrocketed. Cirium, a provider of aviation data and analysis, said 540 flights had been scheduled between the UK and France before Christmas.
According to estimates by UK motoring services firm RAC, there will be around 27 million car journeys on the roads between December 17 and Christmas Eve, with an average of 4.1 million journeys per day next week and a peak of 5.3 million car journeys on Christmas Eve.
Vehicles were still lined up on the evening of December 17 at the entrance to the British port of Dover before the French "ban" came into effect.
This move by France has led to what the press has dubbed a “Grand Escape” or “Le Grand stampede” (“the great escape”) at midnight. It is a serious congestion at the UK-France border gates that is taking place again in the style of the “Alpha wave” effect in 2020. This time, it is also a situation where thousands of trucks carrying goods and cars carrying British tourists line up on the road for hours, trying to get to France before the deadline when the new restrictions come into effect.
RE-ENCOUNTERING THE "ALPHA WAVE" SITUATION IN EUROPE
Following France, Germany on December 18 also announced tighter restrictions on “non-essential” travel for most travelers from the UK from midnight Sunday, December 19. Accordingly, those coming from the UK need to present a negative Covid-19 test result and comply with the 14-day quarantine regulation regardless of their vaccination status. Only German citizens and residents, their spouses or children, and transit passengers will be allowed to travel to Germany from the UK.
Tourists from the UK arrive at Berlin airport on December 18.
After Italy, Portugal and Ireland amended their travel regulations, Belgium and the Netherlands have followed suit, with other European countries planning similar moves this week.
Despite the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)’s assertion last week that restrictions are making little difference, Europe is still facing another quiet winter, which could mean more lockdowns in many European countries to contain the spread of the new Omicron variant.
A deserted scene in Amsterdam on December 20, after the Netherlands began the first day of a new nationwide "lockdown", expected to last at least until January 14, 2022.
Disappointment has been expressed by British tourists on social media.Germany's second year of restrictions on UK visitors means our Christmas and New Year 2022 plans are 'ruined'- mA British man with family in Germany wrote on Twitter.
