https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As France faces a triple epidemic of Covid-19, influenza, and bronchitis, pharmacies have begun offering "two-for-one" swabs, to test for both Covid and flu. Here is what you need to know https://www.thelocal.fr/20230103/french-pharmacies-to-offer-two-in-one-covid-19-and-flu-test Tue, 03 Jan 2023 17:51:28 +0100 french-pharmacies-to-offer-two-in-one-covid-19-and-flu-test French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Tuesday that Covid-19 tests for travellers arriving from China would continue despite protests from Beijing. https://www.thelocal.fr/20230103/french-pm-says-covid-tests-for-travellers-from-china-will-continue Tue, 03 Jan 2023 11:06:35 +0100 french-pm-says-covid-tests-for-travellers-from-china-will-continue In most cases Covid tests are no longer required for travel, but if you're visiting France and you develop symptoms, here is how to access a test. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210422/how-can-tourists-and-visitors-in-france-get-a-covid-test Thu, 22 Apr 2021 15:29:45 +0200 how-can-tourists-and-visitors-in-france-get-a-covid-test French health authorities have warned that cold temperatures can render Covid tests unreliable, as a winter cold snap grips much of France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220128/french-experts-warn-cold-temperatures-could-lead-to-false-covid-test-results Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:49:10 +0100 french-experts-warn-cold-temperatures-could-lead-to-false-covid-test-results Home testing kits are increasingly becoming part of the French government's anti-Covid strategy - here's how to find them, how much they cost and what they can be used for. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220110/covid-home-test-kits-in-france-how-to-use-where-to-find-and-how-much Mon, 10 Jan 2022 17:44:13 +0100 covid-home-test-kits-in-france-how-to-use-where-to-find-and-how-much If you test positive for Covid via an antigen or self-test, you no longer need to confirm the result with a PCR test in order to benefit from paid time off work. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220107/france-no-longer-requires-pcr-tests-to-confirm-covid-diagnosis Fri, 07 Jan 2022 15:38:22 +0100 france-no-longer-requires-pcr-tests-to-confirm-covid-diagnosis French supermarkets have been given the right to sell Covid tests up until January 31st. The government has called on everyone attending a New Year's Eve gathering to get tested beforehand. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211228/covid-self-testing-kits-to-be-sold-in-french-supermarkets Tue, 28 Dec 2021 10:35:17 +0100 covid-self-testing-kits-to-be-sold-in-french-supermarkets Christmas is coming - and the French government has advised that anyone holding or attending a get-together over the festive period should first have a Covid test. So what is the best type to take? https://www.thelocal.fr/20211222/pre-christmas-covid-tests-what-type-to-get-in-france Wed, 22 Dec 2021 15:43:46 +0100 pre-christmas-covid-tests-what-type-to-get-in-france Covid rules for anyone wanting to enter France from abroad vary from country to country, with non-EU countries - such as the US and UK - facing more stringent requirements than residents and citizens of EU Member States. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211208/fit-to-fly-what-kind-of-covid-tests-are-valid-for-returning-to-or-entering-france Wed, 08 Dec 2021 12:07:51 +0100 fit-to-fly-what-kind-of-covid-tests-are-valid-for-returning-to-or-entering-france As coronavirus screening is no longer free in Switzerland, some residents of border areas get tested in France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211018/swiss-residents-crossing-border-to-france-for-cheaper-covid-tests Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:31:41 +0200 swiss-residents-crossing-border-to-france-for-cheaper-covid-tests Covid tests were previously free for all French residents, but from October 15th, you will have to start paying for tests under certain circumstances. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210813/free-covid-tests-in-france-who-qualifies Fri, 13 Aug 2021 12:38:18 +0200 free-covid-tests-in-france-who-qualifies The French prime minister has confirmed that Covid tests will no longer be free for all residents of France from the middle of October. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210927/france-to-end-free-covid-tests-for-all-in-october Mon, 27 Sep 2021 10:47:46 +0200 france-to-end-free-covid-tests-for-all-in-october Foreign tourists and visitors are no longer be eligible for free Covid tests in France after the government scrapped free testing for non-residents, blaming a "lack of reciprocity" from other countries. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210701/france-ends-free-covid-tests-for-tourists Thu, 01 Jul 2021 11:28:25 +0200 france-ends-free-covid-tests-for-tourists If you live in France Covid tests are free for all purposes, so it can come as a bit of shock when travelling to discover that other countries charge - sometimes more than €100 - for tests. But you could be able to claim a refund on these. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210706/how-french-residents-can-claim-back-the-costs-of-covid-tests-taken-abroad Tue, 06 Jul 2021 16:01:12 +0200 how-french-residents-can-claim-back-the-costs-of-covid-tests-taken-abroad Covid-19 tests in France are free for everyone, but anyone wanting to travel is quickly finding that having a test in another country can cost well over €100. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210618/when-can-residents-in-france-be-reimbursed-for-covid-19-tests-abroad Fri, 18 Jun 2021 19:32:14 +0200 when-can-residents-in-france-be-reimbursed-for-covid-19-tests-abroad Travel is opening up around Europe, but most countries still have testing requirements in place for adults. When it comes to under 18s, however, the rules vary widely on who is exempt and who needs a test. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210614/compare-what-are-covid-testing-requirements-around-europe-for-travelling-children Mon, 14 Jun 2021 19:10:26 +0200 compare-what-are-covid-testing-requirements-around-europe-for-travelling-children As PCR tests are cheaper in France, people from the Swiss canton of Geneva are heading over the border to get the nasal swab. A third of those tested in French border centres are from Switzerland. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210312/coronavirus-why-are-swiss-residents-going-to-france-to-get-tested Fri, 12 Mar 2021 14:40:12 +0100 coronavirus-why-are-swiss-residents-going-to-france-to-get-tested Italy announced on Monday that it was tightening its rules for travellers from France by making arrivals from seven regions, including Paris, undergo compulsory Covid-19 tests. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200921/italy-imposes-compulsory-covid-19-tests-on-travellers-from-7-regions-of-france Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:57:48 +0200 italy-imposes-compulsory-covid-19-tests-on-travellers-from-7-regions-of-france