France to quarantine Spain travellers in reciprocal measure: official

• Spain said on Tuesday it would from Friday impose a 14-day quarantine period on all travellers to avoid importing new virus cases.
• "No quarantine measure will apply to travellers from France at this stage; any measure from one side or the other will be taken in a coordinated and reciprocal way," the Elysee said then.

PARIS: France will impose quarantine on travellers arriving from Spain in a reciprocal measure after Madrid decided to restrict arrivals from Europe's Schengen zone, a presidential official said on Thursday.

Spain said on Tuesday it would from Friday impose a 14-day quarantine period on all travellers to avoid importing new virus cases.

"France will impose a 14-day quarantine from the moment Spain imposes the measure, based on the principal of reciprocity," a presidential official said.

The official did not give the precise date, saying this was still the subject of bilateral talks.

And imposing these kinds of restrictions "did not represent the desire" of France, added the official.

France currently has restrictions on its borders with Schengen, EU countries and the UK and has proscribed travel to and from non-European countries.

But the French government is hoping to gradually reopen France's borders ahead of the summer, with June 15 set as a possible date for deciding on an initial relaxation.

In weekend telephone talks, the Elysee said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed there should for now be no quarantine measures for travellers arriving in Britain from France.

"No quarantine measure will apply to travellers from France at this stage; any measure from one side or the other will be taken in a coordinated and reciprocal way," the Elysee said then.

Johnson on Sunday had announced plans to introduce quarantine for people arriving in Britain by air to prevent new infections from abroad.