MANDATORY COVID-19 TESTS FOR TRAVELERS COMING FROM 16 COUNTRIES PM J CATSEX SAID

USPA NEWS - French Prime Minister Jean Castex, on the sidelines of a visit to Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle international airport., announced on Friday that France will require on-the-spot COVID-19 tests for travelers coming from 16 countries, where the virus is circulating widely, Jean Castex, the new French Prime Minister appointed recently, on July 3rd, specifically warned French citizens against travelling to Spain's in Catalonia, over a high toll of COVID-19 infections, spotted, recently there. » "Concerning the situation in Catatonia, which is displaying worsened indicators for infection, we strongly encourage French citizens to avoid going there until the health situation improves," PM, Jean Castex said. The move comes as the coronavirus accelerates in several countries. Jean Castex explains that "for these countries, the borders are closed and this only concerns French citizens who reside in these countries or citizens of these countries who have a stable residence in France".

French Prime Minister Jean Castex, on the sidelines of a visit to Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle international airport., announced on Friday that France will require on-the-spot COVID-19 tests for travelers coming from 16 countries, where the virus is circulating widely, Jean Castex, the new French Prime Minister appointed recently, on July 3rd, specifically warned French citizens against travelling to Spain's in Catalonia, over a high toll of COVID-19 infections, spotted, recently there. » "Concerning the situation in Catatonia, which is displaying worsened indicators for infection, we strongly encourage French citizens to avoid going there until the health situation improves," PM, Jean Castex said. The move comes as the coronavirus accelerates in several countries. Jean Castex explains that "for these countries, the borders are closed and this only concerns French citizens who reside in these countries or citizens of these countries who have a stable residence in France". These travelers, will must be tested for COVID-19, upon arrival on French soil. This decision seeks to counter the lack of a "screening strategy" in some countries, and therefore access to tests, which is often difficult. The implementation of this device is expected "in the coming days and at the latest, on August 1". The United States is also included to the 16 countries list for mandatory COVID-19 tests, according to LCI French News TV channel. COVID-19 TESTS MANDATORY FOR TRAVELERS FROM THE RED LIST CONCERNS 16 COUNTRIES Travellers from countries where the infection rate is deemed to be high will be subject to compulsory testing on arrival at French airports and sea ports, Jean Castex told reporters, without naming the countries. The tests will apply to "French citizens who live in these countries or citizens of these countries with an established residence in France" who will be the only ones allowed to enter, the prime minister added. France is strengthening its coronavirus screening system, with tests made compulsory for travelers from 16 countries classified as "red". Here is the list and the situation in each of them. They are on the "red list". Travelers from 16 countries will now have to show a white leg before entering French territory via the country's airports and ports. Thus, proof of a negative test of less than 72 hours will be mandatory from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Bahrain and Panama. However, the test will be done upon arrival in France for travelers from South Africa, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel, Brazil, Peru, Serbia, Algeria, Turkey, Madagascar , India and Oman. Why have the French authorities designated these 16 countries in particular? LCI takes stock of the situation for each of them.

MANDATORY TESTS BEFORE DEPARTURE BEFORE ARRIVAL UPON FRANCE--------------------------------------------- France is strengthening its COVID-19 screening system, with tests made compulsory for travelers from 16 countries classified as "red". Here is the list and the situation in each of them. Travelers from four countries in the world will have to take advantage of a negative test carried out in the last 72 hours to have the right to enter French soil. BAHREIN: While this Gulf state has one of the highest per capita coronavirus infection rates in the world, the death rate is among the lowest, at 0.34%. Authorities have reported more than 37,000 cases and 130 deaths for a population of 1.6 million. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: In the Emirates, 343 people, have lost their lives since the start of the epidemic. An important hub for international airport connections, the country's economy is suffering greatly from the fall in air traffic. Note that the measure imposed by France reciprocates: from August 1, a COVID-19 test will be mandatory for all people entering and in transit, regardless of the country of departure, in the United Arab Emirates. Such a measure is already applied to travel to the city of Abu Dhabi, the economic heart of the Emirates.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The United States surpassed 4 million officially recorded cases on Thursday, and a quarter of that number has occurred in the past 15 days, and most affected by the COVID-19, in the world. The world's leading economic power has also become the country. The rising daily rate of cases and the number of hospitalizations indicate that the country is far from containing the virus. 146,596 people have died from the disease.------------------------------ PANAMA: This Central American state is experiencing a growing escalation in coronavirus cases and deaths. Authorities have reported 1,209 deaths since the start of the epidemic and the death rate is over 2%. The Minister of Health has authorized the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat infected patients.

THE TWELVE OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE RED LIST------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALGERIA: Algeria recorded a record increase in daily positive cases of contamination in 24 hours on July 24, with 675 new infections, according to the official report established. 1,126 Algerians have died since the start of the epidemic. BRAZIL: It is the second country in the world most affected by the pandemic. President Jair Bolsonaro is himself affected and had to undergo a period of quarantine. Brazil has recorded nearly 2.3 million cases (more than 60,000 in 24 hours) for more than 84,000 deaths since the start of the health crisis.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDIA: With more than 1.2 million cases and the third highest number of cases in the world, the pandemic is hitting India hard. Isolation rooms are being set up across the country for those who are asymptomatic or have mild infections but are unable to isolate themselves at home. The country has recorded 30,601 deaths.-------------------------------------------------------- ISRAEL: The number of infected is on the rise in the Hebrew state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to appoint a public health professional to handle the health crisis. In recent weeks, new cases have steadily exceeded 1,000 per day, peaking at 2,000 on Tuesday.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KUWAIT: Authorities have confirmed 753 new cases (including 271 foreign residents) in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infections to 62,625 in the Persian Gulf country of 4.4 million people. Kuwait recently eased traffic restrictions as part of its gradual deconfinment plan. From Tuesday, the nighttime curfew will be reduced and hotels will be reopened. MADAGASCAR: Malagasy state recorded one new death and 219 positive tests. Amnesty International recently denounced the imprisonment of several political opponents and journalists who criticized the handling of the health crisis. OMAN: In its latest press briefing, the Oman Ministry of Health reports 1,660 new coronavirus infections, bringing the toll to 71,547 people infected in the sultanate since the start of the epidemic with 165 patients are still placed in intensive care. PERU : According to a Financial Times analysis, Peru had one of the highest excess mortality rates in the world. The weaknesses of the health care system lead many residents to buy oxygen bottles on the black market themselves to save their sick relatives. Peru recorded 199 new deaths on Thursday July 23, bringing the total toll to 17,654 people fatally affected by the COVID-19. QATAR : If France places the emirate on its red list, on Thursday the Qatari government, on the other hand, considered France as a safe country as part of a plan to gradually lift restrictions on travel. With a population of 2.8 million, Qatar has reported more than 107,000 coronavirus cases and 163 deaths. Strikingly, the death rate is among the lowest in the world, at 0.15%. SERBIA: Initially spared by the disease, Serbia is currently experiencing its peak of coronavirus infection. This week, a group of 350 doctors rang the doorbell in an open letter to the government in Belgrade. Qualifying the situation of "health disaster", they denounce "the total abandonment of measures to fight against the epidemic". SOUTH AFRICA: Faced with the still large number of new cases, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided to close all schools in the country until August 24. He called the coronavirus epidemic "a storm" hitting the country. With more than 400,000 infections, South Africa is currently the fifth country in the world for the number of COVID-19 infections. TURKEY: A random screening campaign launched by the Ministry of Health across the country found a positive COVID-19 incidence of 2.5 in 1,000 people. The first coronavirus patients were reported in March in Turkey and the number of case reached since 223,315. In total, 46% of cases are in Istanbul, a city of 15 million inhabitants. (Source: LCI Channel, TV)