Britain says thousands of lorries cross Channel following virus tests stepped up

DOVER, England (Reuters) -Far more than 4,500 lorries, amid a substantial backlog of vehicles stranded for times in the British port of Dover, crossed the Channel on Friday just after excess troops were being deployed to step up coronavirus tests, a minister stated.

Ferry solutions between Dover and the French port of Calais resumed on Thursday, ending a blockade France had imposed for numerous days pursuing the discovery of a new coronavirus variant in England.

British transport minister Grant Shapps claimed on Twitter on Friday that extra than 10,000 coronavirus tests had been carried out on lorry drivers and only 24 of them had examined positive.

“Over 4,500 HGVs (large merchandise autos) are back in excess of the Channel,” Shapps claimed.

Britain deployed added troops to support obvious the queues of lorries ready for COVID-19 exams right before remaining permitted to board cross-channel ferries. British media reported 800 further troopers had been sent to aid 300 at first deployed.

Soldiers checked cars and drivers’ files at the entrance to the port. In 1 case, French officers, who ended up in Dover to support obvious the backlog, ended up observed administering a nasal swab to a driver.

The French and British governments agreed to finish the blockade on Tuesday but the British authorities experienced claimed it would choose days to apparent the long lines of trucks.