Germany: Lockdown restrictions to be implemented in Bavaria's Berchtesgadener Land from October 20 /update 42

Event

Authorities will implement a two-week lockdown in Bavaria's Berchtesgadener Land from 14:00 (local time) on Tuesday, October 20, following a spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the district to 272.8 per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days. The lockdown measures will mean residents will not be able to leave their homes without a valid reason. Furthermore, schools, restaurants, bars, theatres, gyms, cinemas, and hotels will be closed, although church services will be allowed. Berchtesgadener Land is the first area in Germany to go back into lockdown since April. 

Wearing a face mask is mandatory in certain public areas in all 16 German states. Further restrictions vary by region.

As of October 20, there have been 373,825 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany with 9803 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected in the near term

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures: