DOVER, England (AP) – The trucks slowly passed the checkpoints at the English port of Dover and headed across the Channel on Thursday to the French port of Calais after France partially reopened its borders with Britain following a scare a new variant of the virus that was spreading rapidly.
However, thousands of truck drivers and passengers were stranded in the massive blockade of Dover Harbor on Christmas Eve, driven by the slow delivery of coronavirus tests now required by France. One by one, the trucks moved to ferries and trains connecting the UK to France, while authorities checked to see if drivers had the negative virus tests needed to cross.
On the French side, strong winds hit the coast before dawn and the vast port of Calais – which normally transports up to 4,000 trucks a day – remained quieter than usual.
A spokeswoman for the Port of Dover said it had “received” less than 100 cargo vehicles “due to testing restrictions”, and officials warned that it could take several days to clean up. A British road transport expert estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000 trucks could be trapped in the chaos near Dover, but a government minister said it involved about 4,000 trucks.
French Ambassador Catherine Colonna said two dozen French firefighters had been sent to Dover, bringing 10,000 coronavirus tests for desperate drivers to get home for Christmas. British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said British and French authorities had agreed to keep the border open between countries throughout Christmas to help truck drivers and passengers get home.
Dozens of countries around the world began banning people in the UK last weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said large areas of southern England had to be severely restricted to reduce a new, more contagious version of the virus that whips in around London and south-east England.
France’s measure has raised major concerns, as France is a major conduit for trade and travel between the UK and the mainland. The UK relies heavily on cross-Channel trade links to the mainland for food at this time of year, especially fresh fruit and vegetables.
The announcement of the coronavirus variant was added to the anxieties at a time when Europe was surrounded by increasing numbers of new infections and deaths. Europe as a whole has more than 500,000 deaths from the virus, according to a Johns Hopkins University report that experts agree that there is probably an insufficient number due to missed cases and other factors.
The UK has seen high rates of infection in recent weeks, with many hospitals being close to their capacity. On Wednesday, the country reported another 744 deaths and a record 39,237 new confirmed cases. Christmas gatherings and festive shopping have been canceled for millions at the last minute, in an attempt to control the spread of the virus.
London now has the highest rate of positive results in the country, with about 2.1% of those who tested positive for COVID-19, according to figures released Thursday by the Office for National Statistics.
France has defended its management of the border situation after the EU transport commissioner issued unusually strong public criticism.
Commissioner Adina Valean, from Romania, wrote on Twitter: “I regret that France went against our recommendations and brought us back to the situation we were in in March, when the supply chains were interrupted”.
French Minister of European Affairs Clement Beaune responded on Twitter that France “followed exactly the EU recommendation” and is now “more open than other European countries” to UK arrivals.
Some European countries relaxed their travel limits in the UK on Wednesday, although many remain. China on Thursday became the latest nation to suspend flights to and from Britain
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Angela Charlton contributed from Paris.
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