A team of French firefighters has been dispatched to Dover with 10,000 truck drivers’ coronavirus tests as part of a renewed Franco-British mission to allow transporters to cross the canal by Christmas Day.
France’s ambassador to the UK, Catherine Colonna, said the two countries are “neighbors, partners, allies and (yes) friends” and that 26 firefighters have brought thousands of rapid tests to the harbor on Christmas Eve.
A photo posted by Colonna on Twitter – using the hashtags #StrongerTogether and #thursdayvibes – showed the orange jackets. Firefighter Covid tests were conducted on carriers before dawn on Thursday.
Catherine Colonna
(AmbColonna)Neighbors, Partners, Allies and (Yes) Friends !! 26, firefighters work with teams in #Dover Since the morning. They brought in 10,000 # COVID19 the exams. # Together is stronger # good morning https://t.co/n1StINADIh pic.twitter.com/bnDhmDuD5M
The move came as Britain’s Transport Secretary, Grant Shaps, promised that the ferries would sail on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to help resolve the impasse he had caused. 48 hours closing borders Imposed by France in an attempt to stop the highly contagious new Covid variant from crossing the canal.
it was there Tensions mount At the port on Wednesday as truck drivers, many of whom have been stuck in Dover for more than 48 hours with limited resources, protested with UK officials.
It is estimated that up to 10,000 trucks are being supported around the ports on the south coast of England, including In Lowry Park At Manston Airport, 170 military personnel have been called in to assist in the NHS-led effort to test drivers that began Wednesday morning.
But hours before sunrise on Christmas Eve, and with an important Brexit trade deal going undisclosed by hours, a fresh idea about Franco-British cooperation emerged in Dover.
French embassy in the United Kingdom chirp: “26 French firefighters arrived early in # Dover this morning, carrying with them # 10,000 Covid19 test. They are already working closely with the British on the ground, testing drivers on their way to France! #StrongerTogether #FrancoBritishFriendship!”
It is unclear why the 10,000 French tests need to be carried out in Kent – the UK government said Wednesday evening it had four mobile test sites in operation with five more being established – but Shabis welcomed help.
The ministers, who have been negotiating all week with his French counterpart to unblock the ports, tweeted: “In addition to ensuring that the ferries will now sail on Christmas and Boxing Day, we also have great cooperation from the French firefighters working with the NHS test and tracking and our illustrious army in a major effort. To eliminate the accumulation resulting from closing the French borders. “
The Ministry of Transport and the French Embassy in the United Kingdom were contacted for comment.
