France was one of the first countries to impose strict travel bans against several Southern African countries, including South Africa, following the discovery of the Omicron variant. However, the French authorities took it one step further and created a new category of restricted countries – the ‘scarlet’ red list – to protect France from the new variant until it was better understood.
This list prohibited travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Mauritius from entering France.
READ: France updates travel restrictions; SA on new ‘scarlet red list’
South Africa has now been removed from the scarlet red list and allocated onto the red list on January 6. This means that vaccinated travellers are granted entry without requiring to quarantine or provide compelling reasons, according to Business Insider.
South African travellers will however still be subject to testing protocols irrespective of vaccination status. Individuals aged 12 and over must provide a negative PCR test no older than 48 hours prior to their flight.
In addition, travellers must provide a sworn statement declaring that they do not have any Covid-19 symptoms, nor have been in contact with anyone with Covid-19.
Picture: Anthony Choren/Unsplash
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