Germany: Authorities suspend travel from Brazil, South Africa, the UK, Ireland, and Portugal starting Jan. 30 due to new strain of COVID-19. /update 29

Germany suspends travel from several countries, including Brazil, the UK, Ireland, and Portugal, from Jan. 30 due to new strain of COVID-19.

Event

In an effort to limit the spread of a new strain of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), health officials in Germany are suspending travel from Brazil, South Africa, the UK, Ireland, and Portugal from Jan. 30. Travel from Lesotho and eSwatini will be suspended starting Jan. 31. German citizens, residents, as well as freight transporters and diplomats, are exempt from this measure. These restrictions will be in place until at least Feb. 17. Additionally, Germany has designated numerous locations, including the UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, Latvia, and Slovenia as high-risk areas. All permitted travelers arriving in the country who have visited designated variant, or high-risk areas within the previous 10 days must provide a negative COVID-19 test no older than 48 hours upon arrival, or take a test as soon as they arrive in the country. These travelers must also self-isolate for 10-days; the self-isolation can be ended on day five with a second negative test.

Most travelers from outside of the EEA, with the exception of those from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, and Thailand, remain prohibited from entry. Limited exceptions are made for EEA citizens and residents, diplomats, essential workers, students, freight and transport workers, individuals in transit, and for urgent reasons decided on a case-by-case basis. All such arrivals are subject to a mandatory self-isolation period as detailed above; this measure does not apply to transport and freight workers.

Domestic restrictions

Germany has tightened and extended measures imposed nationwide to slow the spread of COVID-19 until Feb. 14. Although infection rates have slowed in recent days, federal and state authorities opted to extend most measures and tighten others due to concerns that more infectious variants of COVID-19 may enter the country. Authorities now require individuals to wear filter facemasks with a filtering facepiece protection class of at least 2 (FFP2) on public transport and in stores and public offices.

Additionally, the following measures have been extended until Feb. 14:

Residents of COVID-19 hotspots may not travel more than 15 km (9.3 miles) from their residential district without a valid reason for travel.
Private gatherings are limited to two people unless they are members of the same household.
All nonessential shops are closed.
Restaurants and bars remain closed except for delivery and carryout services.
Public recreation centers and entertainment facilities, including gyms, swimming pools, saunas, cinemas, and theaters, are closed.
Large events are suspended.
Employees are advised to work from home whenever possible.
Tourism-related hotel stays are suspended.
Nonessential travel is discouraged.
When possible, people from different households should remain a minimum of 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart.

Authorities could further ease, tighten, or otherwise amend restrictions with little-to-no notice based on disease activity over the coming weeks.