As France prepares to lift restrictions and receive tourists this summer, the country is offering free PCR tests to foreigners choosing to travel to France, said Secretary of State for European Affairs Clement Beaune.
Most European countries require foreigners to present a vaccination certificate or a negative result of a COVID-19 PCR test before entering their country. France will become the only European country to offer free PCR testing to citizens and tourists who choose to travel to France.
The cost of a test varies between 50 and 300 euros in Spain, Great Britain, Germany and Sweden. Beaune said the measure is needed to boost tourism economically. "We need and want, in good health, to remain the most important European and world tourist destination".
France will offer free PCR tests to tourists this summer.
The European Parliament is trying to harmonize travel restrictions and calls on EU member states to provide tests for free or - at least - to provide an affordable fare for PCR tests. It is not confirmed whether all countries will accept such a proposal.
Speaking of the digital health permit, EU COVID-19 certified, which will include details about the vaccine or the result of PCR tests and will be used for access to large gatherings in France, but also for travel to the EU from June, Beaune said the permit is a "Reopening tool". The health permit code will make it possible to travel anywhere in the EU, "From Paris to Athens or from Madrid to Berlin", he said.
From May 19, France will gradually move to the second phase of reopening. Outdoor dining areas, ie the terraces of bars and restaurants, public places, including museums, cinemas and theaters - which have been closed since October - are set to reopen. However, residents will be barred from 21:00 local time instead of 19:00 as is currently the case.
The lifting of the restrictions was possible due to the improvement of the sanitary situation in the country.
The lifting of the restrictions was possible due to the improvement of the sanitary situation in the country. On Saturday, health officials announced that 20 million people, nearly a third of the population, had been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There is also a relative decrease in the number of daily deaths and positive cases, starting in April - when the third wave was announced.
According to the public health report announced on Sunday, there were 324 deaths in hospitals, 31.539 new cases and 29.911 hospitalized patients due to diseases associated with the COVID-19 virus.