Germany has extended a ban on arrivals from the UK and South Africa over new Covid-19 variants until later this month reported The Local.de.
Officials banned people arriving from these countries on December 22nd after new coronavirus variants, believed to be more infectious, were detected in these countries.
“The transport ban covers passenger traffic by train, bus, ship and flights directly from these countries,” the Health Ministry previously said in a statement.
the ban on arrivals from the UK and South Africa was due to be lifted on January 6th. However, German authorities say the ban will now be in place until at least January 20th.
However, there are some exceptions. These people are allowed to travel into Germany from the UK and South Africa:
- German citizens regardless of their place of residence
- EU citizens entitled to freedom of movement as well as their family members with permanent residence in Germany, including:
- British citizens (and their family members) who were legally resident in Germany before the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31st
- Third-country nationals with permanent residence in Germany who have a residence permit or long-term visa for Germany
- People who are not entering Germany, who stay in the airport transit area (en route to a country outside of the Schengen area) and who meet the necessary criteria for this (confirmed onward flight and, if required, Airport Transit Visa)
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Those people arriving in Germany have to stick to strict rules:
- According to authorities, travellers coming into Germany from the UK or South Africa “must provide proof (in either English or German) of a negative Covid-19 test”
- The test has to have been taken no more than 48 hours before arrival in Germany
- “For entry into Germany, PCR, LAMP, TMA and antigen tests are all accepted,” authorities say. However, antigen tests must meet certain quality standards
- Note that the test can no longer be taken upon or immediately after entry into Germany
- The German government has asked transport carries to only allow travellers to board who can present proof of the test at the start of their trip
- That means if you don’t have proof of a negative test, you may be refused entry onto a flight or other mode of transport
- When people arrive in Germany they must quarantine for 10 days (as is mandatory for everyone coming from a ‘risk zone’, we wrote about them here). That quarantine can be ended with a negative test taken five days in at the earliest.
People coming from risk areas also have to fill out a form.
For information on test requirements check out this information sheet.
More news on the state of the coronavirus in Germany: CORONAVIRUS GERMANY