display
Berlin (dpa) - Compulsory testing, quarantine, stricter border controls: Even now, entering Germany is arduous.
For seven countries there is now even an extensive entry ban from the weekend.
Due to the corona pandemic, there were already requirements for around 160 of the almost 200 countries in the world.
The most important questions and answers about the existing entry rules - and the new entry freeze.
Why did the federal government take this drastic measure?
display
The aim is to curb the cross-border spread of dangerous virus mutations.
Areas of origin of such mutations are Great Britain, South Africa and Brazil.
In addition, the mutants are already very widespread in Portugal and Ireland as well as in the small South African states of Lesotho and Eswatini.
The federal government has classified these seven countries as so-called virus variant areas.
Lesotho and Eswatini, however, only from Sunday.
How should entry be prevented?
By means of a transport ban for airlines as well as bus, train and shipping companies.
They are generally prohibited from bringing people from these countries to Germany.
But there are numerous exceptions.
For example, all Germans and foreigners living in Germany can continue to come to Germany.
Commercial flights are likely to continue to be offered to them.
A state-organized return campaign with charter flights by the federal government, such as during the border controls in spring, should not be repeated.
display
Will the movement of goods also be restricted?
No.
What other exceptions are there?
display
The transport of medical personnel, ambulance flights, and organ transport as well as transport "for urgent humanitarian reasons" are excluded.
In addition, the entry stop does not apply to transit passengers or to the crews of aircraft and ships.
How many flights do you expect to have to be canceled?
It is unclear.
But it could be hundreds.
From January 1st to 26th, according to an analysis by the German air traffic control, there were 1601 arrivals from the five current areas of change and 1572 departures there - around 60 per day.
Lufthansa alone currently offers 55 return flights per week to the affected countries.
How do you want to enforce the implementation of the transport ban?
In almost all countries that are currently designated as so-called virus variant areas, the entry ban is relatively easy to control, since people have to travel by plane.
Theoretically, someone from the EU member state Portugal or Great Britain could drive by car, bus or train across Western Europe to Germany.
However, due to the extremely high number of corona infections, the Portuguese government has already ordered the border to neighboring Spain to be closed from Friday.
For an initial two weeks, the Portuguese-Spanish border may only be crossed in emergency situations.
What is changing at the German land borders?
Nothing at first.
Because the federal government wants to avoid border controls, as they existed at several border sections in the spring, as far as possible.
Instead, she relies on an intensified veil search.
This means that the probability of being checked at the border in the 30-kilometer area is higher than in normal times.
So far, no return to inpatient controls is planned even in the event that a neighboring country should soon be declared a virus variant area.
However, it cannot be entirely ruled out that this will still be decided.
display
Which entry restrictions already apply?
The federal government has already made it difficult to travel to Germany step by step over the past few weeks and months.
Around 160 countries are now classified in one of three categories of risk areas.
For the lowest, a test requirement applies no later than 48 hours after entry and a ten-day quarantine requirement, from which you can free yourself after five days with a second negative test.
For around 40 countries in the two higher categories - including the mutation areas - the rules were tightened last week.
When entering from these countries you have to present a negative test upon entry.
Is it to be feared that travel will soon be banned completely?
The federal government wants as few trips as possible.
There will be no general travel ban.
Germany “will not be a prison”, Seehofer emphasized in an “Bild” interview.
Can the spread of virus mutations in Germany be stopped by the entry ban?
All three highly contagious virus mutations originating in Great Britain, Brazil and South Africa have already been detected in Germany.
How widespread they are is unclear.
According to the virologist Alexander Kekulé, the entry ban has only a limited effect on the infection rate.
You have to be aware that you can only brake a little temporarily, he said in the MDR-Aktuell podcast.
"But we won't be able to keep that out in the long run."
Even so, the virologist is more in favor of travel restrictions.
“At this point in time, it's better to do
than not to do it.
Radical measures would not be
justified,
however
, since you only buy time. "
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210129-99-227207 / 3
RKI on risk areas
Entry registration