Testing centre queues fuel criticism over France's COVID strategy

People queue to enter a laboratory to get tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, August 4, 2020. Picture taken August 4, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - The French government was under fire on Wednesday over its free-for-all COVID-19 testing policy as queues snaked out of some testing centres in Paris and at sites across the country amid a flare-up in infections.

One leading federation of laboratories said an abrupt July 25 decree to make testing free-of-charge and without prescription piled pressure on at a time many staff go on holiday. Political opponents lampooned a policy in disarray.