Varsity Ski Trip recommends proof of negative coronavirus test ahead of travel this weekend

In advice released today, the Varsity Ski Trip has recommended proof of negative Covid-19 test ahead of the trips departure to Val Thorens, France this weekend. This change in advice follows the announcement yesterday that France will require all visitors from outside of the EU, including the UK, to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test from Saturday. As well as requiring full vaccination, the French government asks that a PCR or an antigen (lateral flow) test must be taken 48 hours before travel.

The Varsity Ski Trip organisers told the 3,000 plus Oxbridge students attending the trip today that they recommend that everyone travelling “books a private PCR test (or an antigen test that can detect the SARS-CoV-2 N protein).” They added that this “will give you peace of mind knowing you have the required documentation to travel.”

In the case that the test comes back positive, the organisers outline that those students that have taken out NUCO Endsleigh insurance will be able to make a claim.

The organisers have outlined the uncertainty of the change in rules, indicating that, until otherwise, they assume that France’s new policy for travel will come into action at 00:01 on Saturday.

They added that they “cannot guarantee that coaches will not be held up en route to Dover and hence not enter France prior to the new regulation coming into place.” The organisers noted that twelve coaches will not be entering France until after midnight on the 4th of December.

Students will be travelling by plane and bus to the Ski Resort in Val Thorens. Many coaches will be departing from Oxford and Cambridge this Friday. Those racing have already departed England. This year’s trip was the fastest to sell out ever.

The new regulations were outlined yesterday by government spokesman Gabriel Attal who, after the French government’s weekly Defence Council meeting, confirmed to the press that from Saturday all travellers – vaccinated or not – will have to provide a negative test result to enter the country.

You can read the full information for the Varsity Trip here.

When contacted for comment, the Varsity Ski Trip provided The Tab with the above information. Image credits: The Varsity Ski Trip.