France to restrict travel from Britain to fight omicron

By ANGELA CHARLTON and DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — France will restrict arrivals from Britain because of fast-spreading cases of the omicron virus variant. The government spokesman said Thursday that France will impose limits on reasons for traveling and a new requirement of a 48-hour isolation upon arrival. The new measures will take effect first thing Saturday. The government is holding a special virus security meeting Friday to address growing pressure on hospitals in France from rising infections. Delta remains the dominant variant in France. But omicron is spreading so fast in Britain that it is raising concerns across the Channel. A puzzling element of the new French rules was that those targeting Britain are softer than those targeting South Africa — although Britain’s infection numbers are higher.