The French government's spokesman said in an interview published late today that foreign tourists will have to start paying for Covid tests as of next Wednesday, July 7.
He said the charge for PCR tests will be 49€, and for antigen tests, €29 (the latter is fine and meets the the requirement to return to the U.S.).
Here's a link to a newsflash quoting from his interview, which first appeared in Les Echos.
Makes complete sense to me that a country would expect payment for these by non citizens/residents. The prices seem very reasonable.
Yes, the spokesman mentioned reciprocity when discussing the subject — he pointed out when French tourists are abroad, they have to pay for their tests.
I agree too that the prices are reasonable. It does make one wonder why they are so expensive in the UK.
perfectly reasonable request. and very reasonable price
Good to know, thank you Kim.
Thanks for keep us informed, Kim.
I haven't found a free one for travel where I live in the US. Here you have to have been exposed or symptomatic.
That's a reasonable demand and a great price. I was just looking at my local government website and the cost is $150 Canadian. Canada requires 3 tests; one before you get here, one when you get here and one 8 days later.
My friends went to Hawaii. Only certain tests from certain labs would quality and it cost them about $150 each.
If you read the fine print when signing up for a test in the United States (as I did when I was home in May), you find that if you are taking a test for a voluntary reason (such as personal travel), you should pay. If I recall correctly, I paid $140 for mine with CVS.
Hopefully France is using those less invasive Covid tests like California is versus the test that feel like it is touching your brain.
I don't think Kim and I chose to pay for our PCR tests when we flew to France, I in September 2020 and Kim in May 2021. We're up to date on such things. No free testing was available in my whole state for those testing for travel. After a long search, I was able to test by FedEx-ing the materials back and forth with a lab in Virginia. My antigen test to return to the US at my French neighborhood pharmacy was free, as was another at CDG.
CaliMom, it did reach up to the brain.
Hopefully France is using those less invasive Covid tests like California is versus the test that feel like it is touching your brain.
If it doesn't feel that way it isn't being done correctly. If you don't gag it isn't far enough. Right back at the tonsils both sides 4 times then back into one nostril until it stops and 10 circles.
It isn't pleasant but neither is anything with this plague. At least there are now tests and jabs. Beats the alternative.
Bobby — this test would be, for example, for an American tourist returning home from their visit to France. Since the U.S. requires a newer-than-3-day-old test for entry, you have to take one wherever you are in Europe to get back home.
And yes, even the antigen tests here go up into your brain (or feel like they do). They aren’t much fun, but certainly seem like they would be more effective at actually detecting something than the gentle swab I gave myself (!) for my PCR test in Tulsa !!!
