Jens Spahn himself is a bit surprised at how backward the situation looks in retrospect. “Last year we carted cardboard boxes with paper exit cards through the republic,” says the Federal Minister of Health. Returning travelers from risk areas had to leave notes with contact details, but these were hardly checked. And there were hardly any tests. The virus traveled back to Germany, at times 50 percent of the new infections originated abroad. “We don’t want to go back there,” says Spahn and announces strict rules with Interior Minister Horst Seehofer.
What should be considered when traveling on vacation?
The second Corona summer is not that easy for citizens who are planning to travel, but it can be planned well with a little information in advance. And the requirements are manageable. Because of the low incidence, there are far fewer risk areas and therefore a lower risk that vacations will have to be canceled again at short notice.
Which areas are classified as risk areas is constantly updated on the website of the Robert Koch Institute, the federal government also offers detailed information on the applicable rules.
In Europe, most destination countries require a negative test before boarding the aircraft, a free quick test is sufficient in almost all cases, but it should not be more than 24 hours old when presented at the airport. If you have been fully vaccinated and the second vaccination was two weeks ago, you can usually also travel with this proof, either via digital proof or with the vaccination certificate.
This also applies to those recovered from an infection who only need a vaccination, but whether this is accepted everywhere should be checked beforehand on the government and tourism website of the host country – the safer option is to submit an additional test. Countries such as the USA generally still require negative test certificates to enter the country – and in that country, for example, those who have recovered need two vaccinations, with the exception of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with only one dose. Airlines or test stations, on the other hand, are usually not a good source of information. Unfortunately, there is currently no completely uniform framework in the EU, but according to Seehofer, work is still being done on it.
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What levels are there?
The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Health regularly update the country lists in consultation with the Federal Foreign Office. There are three levels: risk areas with more than 50 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days (currently 82 countries and regions, only a few areas in Europe, e.g. in Ireland and Croatia), then the high incidence values with over 200 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants in seven days, that’s currently 24 countries, mainly in South America, Asia and Africa, none in Europe, but also a popular holiday destination like the Seychelles, for example. In addition, 16 states have been classified as so-called virus variant areas, from Europe this concerns Portugal, Russia and the United Kingdom. This is where particularly aggressive and / or contagious corona virus variants occur, such as the delta virus originating in India.
What does this mean for returnees?
In general, the following applies according to the entry regulations: When traveling back to Germany by plane (whether direct or with a transit stop), a negative test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery must be presented before boarding the aircraft (if the corona infection is no longer than six months ago – additional proof of vaccination is required). At the airport in Germany, the evidence is usually checked again by the federal police.
When entering from high-risk areas, a digital entry registration must also be completed in order to be able to quickly track contacts in the event of infection, for example on the plane – this is also checked by the federal police; further test certificates can also be uploaded for non-vaccinated persons in order to be able to after vacations to end a quarantine prematurely in high-risk or high-incidence areas; in high-incidence areas, free testing is only possible from the 5th day of quarantine.
It is different with virus variant areas: After that, 14 days of quarantine are mandatory in Germany, also for vaccinated and convalescent people. Spahn justifies this with the fact that so far the infectiousness of vaccinated persons with regard to these variants cannot be clearly assessed. Incidentally, there are usually strict quarantines in these areas themselves, which is why no German fans were able to fly from Germany to England for the European Championship round of 16. And: When entering from virus variant areas, a transport ban applies – this means only Germans or foreigners residing in Germany are currently allowed to board a plane from Great Britain or Portugal to Germany, for example. All regulations apply until July 28th. “The virus variant area is a really sharp sword, including a ban on transport for non-Germans,” said Spahn.
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What gives hope in the “Delta Debate”?
The Minister of Health puts it this way: “Double vaccination protects against Delta.” Since this week there are new scientific findings that people with two vaccinations are significantly better protected against the variant. Spahn expects that in July 70 to 80 percent of new infections in Germany will also be due to the delta variant and that it will also become the dominant variant in Germany. But the new infections are at a low level, so this high percentage says much less than, for example, the B117 variant with thousands of new infections daily, which triggered the third wave. Vaccination, vaccination, vaccination and regular tests should keep Delta in check.
Spahn also advises regular voluntary tests on non-vaccinated travelers returning home, there are tests “en masse”. Because of the new evidence on double vaccinations, he suggests that Great Britain and Portugal could very soon be downgraded to high incidence areas. So it looks more like relief than setbacks. Although Seehofer emphasizes that UEFA’s behavior in allowing 60,000 spectators to attend the European Championship finals in London’s Wembley Stadium is “absolutely irresponsible”. “Commerce must not outshine the health protection of the population.” At the same time, there is currently no clear evidence that the games themselves were really “superspreading events” – it is often the journey or the joint celebration before and after that harbor the risk of infection.
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How are the rules controlled?
Spahn emphasizes the topic of visiting relatives, not without ulterior motive. Visits to the Balkans or Turkey are made jointly responsible by the government for the increase in infections in Germany after the summer of 2020 – but at that time politicians also slept through clear test rules. “We are interested in travel from Turkey,” emphasizes Seehofer – the country is still classified as a risk area. In addition to the test and vaccination records, there should be more control. According to Spahn, there are currently only 12,000 active corona cases. “We already had almost 400,000.” The more free capacities of the health authorities are now to be used for much more random checks to determine whether those returning from travel – for example from the risk area Turkey – comply with the quarantine obligations. A violation can be punished with fines of up to 25,000 euros.
Stationary border controls, as some prime ministers had called for entry by car, should not be there, however. Seehofer emphasizes that there are currently no virus variant areas at the direct borders anyway. Above all, he wants to rely on measures to hunt down the veil. In Bavaria, for example, there will be “densification behind the border”. Police officers can wave motorists returning from the Balkans to parking spaces in order to punish possible violations of the corona entry rules. “It’s up to us whether Delta has a chance,” says Spahn. Whether it will stay good even after a beautiful summer – at least both try to give the impression that they have learned from mistakes. You will have to be judged by the results in the autumn.
