Germany: Authorities to declare local lockdown in Rottal-Inn district (Bavaria) amid surge in COVID-19 cases October 27 /update 43

Event

German authorities have announced that the Bavarian district of Rottal-Inn will be placed under a local lockdown from Tuesday, October 27, following a surge in identified coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the area. From Tuesday, the district's 120,000 residents will be banned from leaving their homes except for essential reasons such as to purchase food and supplies, travel to work, or seek medical attention. Schools and childcare centers in the district will also be closed for two weeks, whilst restaurants and cafes will be restricted to offering takeaway services. The lockdown has been declared for an initial period of ten days but may be extended depending on the rate of new COVID-19 infections.

Rottal-Inn has experienced a significant spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, with the infection rate rising above 200 per 100,000 inhabitants in the last seven days. The district is the second in Germany to be placed under a local lockdown after restrictions were imposed in Berchtesgaden on October 20.

Although the government has devolved decisions over COVID-19 lockdowns to local authorities since April, some restrictions and social distancing measures remain in force across Germany, including the mandatory use of face masks in public places.

As of Monday, October 26, there have been 444,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany with 10,063 associated deaths. 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: