COVID-19 Restrictions for On-Site Experiments at the ESRF

1. Latest COVID-19 restrictions at the ESRF (7 June 2022)

Travel rules in place are still set up based on country color code, vaccination status and a list of essential reasons, please see Section 3 for more details.

Based on the eligibility of travelers set by the French authorities via these travel rules, users eligible to travel to France will be able to come to the ESRF to perform their experiments.

Operation conditions:

There is no maximum limit of users/staff allowed in a beamline hutch anymore.

Hygiene and social measure regarding the Covid-19 pandemic are relaxed a little starting from Monday 7 June 2022 but we kindly ask for your cooperation in respecting these rules during your visit.

Masks are now only mandatory:

• When more than 4 people work together in the experimental hall or on the beamlines

Users should ensure that any formalities are completed in a timely fashion to allow them to arrive on the ESRF site in time for their experiment.

2. Latest COVID-19 restrictions in France (19 May 2022)

National, local and travel restrictions are constantly evolving so please ensure you are aware of the restrictions in place in France and in the Grenoble area at your time of travel, and ensure you are able to provide the correct paperwork and test results if required.

Travel to France is subject to varying restrictions, based on the intensity of variants circulating in the regions, your vaccination status and the need for an essential reason in some cases. You can find a summary of these restrictions in the following table.

More information and details on the current travel restrictions can be found on the government's dedicated COVID-related travel webpage.

Please note that in the case of a traveler being vaccinated, the following rules apply in order for this status to be fully eligible for entry:

• Vaccines accepted by France are those recognised by the European Medecines Agency (EMA): Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/ Vaxzevria/Covishield and Johnson & Johnson.
• Proof of vaccination is only valid provided that it attests to complete vaccination:
  • 7 days after second dose (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca)
  • 7 days after first dose and you previously had COVID-19 (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca)
  • 28 days after single dose (Johnson & Johnson)
     

Restrictions for travelling to France from a country classified as Orange

Users coming from a country listed in the orange category (any other countries not listed as green on the government's webpage) can only come to France under the following rules:

• Being vaccinated with an European agency approved vaccine as listed above
• If not vaccinated: Having a compelling reason (from the authorised orange countries official list) to travel to France
• Having a negative PCR (<72h) or antigen test result (<48h), taken before their departure to France
   

Restrictions for travelling to France from a country classified as Green

People travelling to France from a country listed in the green category must show:

• If vaccinated: A proof of the accepted vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson)
• If not vaccinated, one of the following:
  • A negative PCR test (<72hr), taken before their departure to France
  • A negative antigen test result (<48h), taken before their departure to France
  • A certificate of recovery from COVID-19 (<6 months)

All types of travel are concerned (air, train, bus, car, sea).

Proof of essential travel is not necessary, but we still advise you to bring your experiment invitation with you.

In addition, please remember to ensure you complete any obligatory travel documents required by the French authorities and the airline companies.

3. Travelling back to your home country

Users are responsible for checking restrictions related to their travel back to their home country. This includes checking the necessity to quarantine, to present a negative COVID-19 test, to complete mandatory travel documents required by the authorities of the user home country and the airline companies.

4. Useful information concerning PCR and antigen tests

Antigen tests

If needed, users can get an antigen test done free of charge on the EPN site by our Medical Service, during working hours (8:00 am to 11:00 am and 1:15 pm to 4:00 pm on week days). Please ask your local contact for the telephone number of the Medical Service so you can make an appointment with the works Doctor.
 

PCR tests

There are multiple laboratories in Grenoble where users can get a PCR test done (https://coronavirus.test.fr/grenoble.html). The closest one to the ESRF is:

Oriade Noviale Berriat
Tram stop Saint Bruno on tram B, just before the train station.
Open from 9:30 am to 11:00 am and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Monday to Friday
   and from 8:30 am to 11:00 am on Saturdays.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in this laboratory prior to the visit, but waiting times may be long so you are encouraged not to wait until the last minute.

Tests can be done without a French social security card and without a doctor's prescription but users would need to bring a proof of ID to the laboratory.

ESRF reimbursed users may request an ESRF contribution for the cost of PCR tests up to a limit of 140 € per reimbursed user per experiment session by filling in a reimbursement claim through SAP Concur and providing an invoice or receipt under the 'miscellaneous' expense option. The test must be directly related to onsite presence for a user experiment.

The results of the PCR test should be provided by the laboratory within 24 hours. Users will have to communicate their mobile phone number to the laboratory to be able to access their results using the link sent to them by text message.

5. Information for onsite users

Please find updated information here.