Germany, one Member State that has been particularly tough in not following guidelines set by the European Council on COVID-19, has announced through the Robert Koch Institute that the country has begun following a region-based model for travel restrictions, rather than an across-the-board approach.
Under guidance given by the Robert Koch Institute, Germany has removed several European regions from the list of ‘high-risk’ areas and will now allow travelers coming from the following parts of Europe:
- The Brittany and Corsica Regions of France.
- The French overseas territories of Guadeloupe, La Reunion, and Martinique.
- The Norwegian province of Vestland.
Travelers coming from the aforementioned European regions will no longer need to self-isolate upon arrival, according to the Institute.
The measure is effective from 00:00 (12 am) on 13 December 2020.
Due to the number of rising cases in Estonia, however, there will be new guidelines for travelers from the following regions:
- Jõgeva
- Lääne
- Lääne-Viru
People coming from the aforementioned Estonian regions will need to self-isolate upon arrival in Germany.
“For people entering the Federal Republic of Germany who have stayed in a risk area at any time within the last ten days before entry, there is an obligation to isolate in accordance with the respective quarantine regulations of the responsible federal states,” the Robert Koch Institute highlighted.
This measure is also effective from 00:00 (12 am) on 13 December 2020.
During self-isolation, a traveler may leave the quarantine period after the fifth day, but only if they receive a negative COVID-19 test.
In addition, all travelers will be required to register themselves into the Digital Entry Registration before arriving in Germany.
The European Council in the past has recommended following a region-based model for travel restrictions, of which would consist of basing the restrictions put forth or measures taken once inside Germany on the region that the traveler comes from, rather than the entire country that they come from.
Germany has been relatively slow to adopt these recommendations in full, however, under the guidance of the Robert Koch Institute will now begin following the region-based model more closely.
