Germany: Authorities update list of areas at high risk for COVID-19 for international travel restrictions as of May 2 /update 45

Event

The German government has updated the nation's list of high-risk areas for which additional COVID-19-related travel restrictions apply. Authorities designate various countries and regions as "high incidence," "risk," or "virus variant" locations depending on local disease activity. As of May 2, Moselle in France has been removed from the list of virus-variant areas and added to the list of high-incidence areas along with Lithuania and Mongolia. The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Norway's Agder district have been added to the list of risk areas; the British Virgin Islands have been removed from the same list. For a full English-language list of locations designated by the German government as virus-variant, risk, and high-incidence areas, click here.

A transport ban is in place for virus-variant areas until at least May 12; only Only German nationals and residents, as well as certain essential workers, are allowed to enter the country from these areas. All permitted arrivals must possess a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within the previous 48 hours and self-isolate for 14 days on arrival. As of May 4, Brazil, India, and several southern African countries, including South Africa, remain designated virus-variant areas

Most travel from outside the EEA, with the exception of that from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, is prohibited. Exemptions are in place for EU nationals or residents and their family members, individuals carrying out essential work, or individuals traveling for urgent reasons. Travelers who have spent any time in a high-incidence area or risk area in the previous 10 days must self-isolate for 10 days; in some regions, individuals are able to end isolation early by taking a second test no sooner than five days after arrival. Travelers who have spent any time in a high-incidence area in the previous 10 days must also possess proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 48 hours prior to arrival; travelers from risk areas must get tested for COVID-19 within 48 hours of arrival. Exceptions are in place for individuals in transit, transport workers, and cross-border commuters.

All travelers arriving in Germany by air must present a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within the previous 48 hours; this also applies to individuals in transit.

Domestic restrictions
A slate of recently tightened domestic measures remains in place amid high rates of infection. Districts in which the seven-day incidence rate of new infections is greater than 100 people per 100,000 inhabitants for three days in a row must implement the following measures:

A nightly 22:00-05:00 curfew, during which time individuals may only leave their homes for essential purposes;
Restricting social meetings to taking place with one individual from outside the household, with no other gatherings being permitted;
Closure of catering establishments, cultural sites, and entertainment venues;
Closure of nonessential shops and businesses (in areas where the incidence rate is below 150 per 100,000 inhabitants, shops can permit individual appointments provided the customer has a negative COVID-19 test);
Requirement that Individuals work from home where possible;
Requirement that schools return to distance learning where incidence rates exceed 165 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

As of May 4, around 309 out of 412 German districts have a seven-day incidence rate greater than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In areas where the incidence rate is lower than this threshold, previous restrictions apply with slight variations between regions. Generally, gatherings are limited to five people, and many nonessential businesses and services are closed. Authorities require individuals to wear facemasks with a filtering facepiece protection class of at least 2 (FFP2) on public transport and in stores and public offices nationwide.

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

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.