By Tony O’Riley-
The French government is retaliating against the UK by insisting that all visitors who arrive from the UK will have to self-isolate for 14 days from 8 June.
It comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel revealed quarantine plans for visitors to the UK from the same date.
The response is intended to impose reciprocal measures for any European country enforcing a quarantine.
The quarantine rules by the UK is consistent with government advice for people to avoid all travel, except where necessary.
Visitors to the UK will be required to inform the government where they will quarantine. Quarantine measures will be enforced through random spot checks which could lead to £1,000 fines.
Lorry drivers, seasonal farm workers, and coronavirus medics will be exempt from the rules in the UK, as will visitors from the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
the Home Office said the new policy will be established across the UK, although how it is enforced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be determined by the devolved administrations.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said discussions would take place with Police Scotland to work out how the policy will be implemented.
‘Not shutting down’
Ms Patel told the briefing the measures were not the same as completely shutting the UK border to visitors.
“We are not shutting down completely. We are not closing our borders,” she said.
Ms Patel said the new measures aim to “keep the transmission rate down and prevent a devastating second wave”.
“I fully expect the majority of people will do the right thing and abide by these measures. But we will take enforcement action against the minority of people who endanger the safety of others,” she added: