Transport Secretary Grant Shapps during a media briefing in Downing Street on Covid-19 (Tolga Akmen/PA)
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed on Tuesday evening that rapid lateral flow tests – which can give results in about 30 minutes – will be used to test HGV drivers at the ports.
The French authorities will be carrying out similar testing on hauliers entering the UK.
More than 2,800 HGVs were stuck in Kent on Tuesday afternoon as a result of the disruption, and Mr Shapps warned it could take until Christmas for congestion to be relieved near ports.
He said: “We have managed to get all those tests to Kent, enough for all the vehicles which will want to return before Christmas, so that won’t be an issue.
French authorities have announced that journeys from the UK will be allowed to resume on Wednesday after the coronavirus ban was lifted, but those seeking to travel must have a negative test result.
The conditions may do little to ease congestion in Kent caused by the French decision to stop hauliers using the Channel crossing.
It is thought that UK authorities will use rapid lateral flow tests to test lorry drivers to help get freight moving again.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urged lorry drivers not to head to the county in the hope of boarding a ferry or train.
The travel ban was imposed in response to fears about the spread of the more infectious coronavirus strain, which is spreading in the UK.
The European Commission recommended a joint approach from EU members after individual countries imposed emergency restrictions.
The most dramatic action came from France, which closed its border to lorries crossing the Channel, leading to more than 2,800 HGVs being trapped in Kent.
The EU-wide approach recommended by the commission would allow essential travel, and transit of passengers should be facilitated.
Flight and train bans “should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions”, the commission said.
EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said: “Member states should take co-ordinated action to discourage non-essential travel between the UK and the EU.”
The European Commission recommended a joint approach from EU members after individual countries imposed emergency restrictions.
The most dramatic action came from France, which closed its border to lorries crossing the Channel, leading to more than 2,800 HGVs being trapped in Kent.
The EU-wide approach recommended by the commission would allow essential travel, and transit of passengers should be facilitated.
Flight and train bans “should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions”, the commission said.
EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said: “Member states should take co-ordinated action to discourage non-essential travel between the UK and the EU.”
| UPDATED: 12:20, Tue, Dec 22, 2020
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France shut the border with the UK over fears surrounding a new super-contagious strain of coronavirus that has emerged in the south-east of Britain. But, the decision has triggered huge tailbacks of lorries, with Kent effectively “becoming a lorry park”.